Shrinking Playfields

Having no open public space in the neighbourhood, Rohan and his friends play cricket amid two-wheelers and cars in the parking lot of their apartment building. No wonder, their game looks a tad dull and lacks animation because a strongly hit boundary may smash a car window or the ball can fly well past the main road. But if Rohan and his mates have the parking lot to play at, Alok, Shikha and Dolly remain virtually holed up in the evening as they either play with their cellphones or surf the internet or just watch the television. Not much outdoor fun for them except for occasional outings with parents. The time-tested ideas that playgrounds are open-air classrooms and that outdoor activity is as important for children as their homework seem to have been forgotten. It’s unhealthy that the wisdom of the old saying -- All work and no play (read outdoor) makes Jack a dull boy-- has been well nigh obliterated. Rampant construction everywhere coupled with unchecked urbanization has led to diminishing space for children to cycle around or play other games. With neighbourhood playgrounds getting gradually non-existent and school work becoming grade and rote focused, many parents send their children to gyms, fitness clubs and activity classes to give them their daily dose of physical exercise. Many children in the age group of 6-14 have hit the city’s many fitness centres. Surprisingly, some gyms have kids as small as 4-year-olds as visitors. The primary reason behind this trend, say experts, is that children don’t have too many playgrounds left where they can run, hop or climb – things which constitute the carefree liveliness of childhood. “We don’t have regimented exercise for kids. It is sort of dancing with music. The aim is to make them fit by providing quality fun time’, says a gym owner at Kolar Road. However, children above 10 do various exercises to grow taller and shed weight. However, experts are firmly opposed to the idea of children below 14 going for rigorous workout as it may affect their natural growth. However, there is nothing wrong in swimming, skating and other outdoor games, he suggests. As public parks are mostly frequented by idlers, walkers, couples in quiet corners and ever-present hawkers, children don’t have an option but to fall back on the few open spaces still left. Father of a toddler, Amit Gupta, a resident of Chuna Bhatti, wonders as to where parents should send their children to play. Deepika Sharma, a resident of Paras City, worries that her 7-year-old daughter doesn’t go down to play as often as she’d like to because she simply doesn’t have enough space to play. “When she goes, she has nowhere to play except for the lobby or the parking area. But how long a child can love playing in that kind of cramped space?” she asks. Going to gym is not only stressful but it also causes much pressure on boy or girls as they work out there for an hour. Group activity or free play is much better, says a psychologist. She says nowadays children are forced to remain alone and it is developing depression in them. In good old days depression struck only after 30 or 35 but these days even a 10-year-old child suffers from depression or anxiety. Outdoor activities not only keep children fit but also improve their interpersonal skills. When they play with other children, they learn to communicate, share, collaborate and empathise and this early training helps in grooming them. -WTN