If you think back to how childhood used to be—being outside constantly, coloring the sidewalks with chalk, riding bikes through the neighborhood, and dreading coming inside when our parents whistled it was time for dinner—it feels like an entirely different, untouchable world (despite the fact it was only a few decades ago).

The essence of childhood unfolded almost entirely outdoors, measured by knee scrapes, chalk-stained hands, and overly active imaginations that kept us busy. The landscape around us was our playground. We didn’t necessarily need access to a plastic, constructed playground. Our play sites were our neighborhoods, the “woods” behind our homes, and simply our driveways.

We would spend the entire day outside—hopping between friends' homes to building forts out of sticks—and then be bummed when the street lamps flickered on and we were called inside for the night.

‍

But what was truly the magical side of it was being able to go to bed and know that we could do it all again tomorrow. Before we headed inside for the night, we’d scheme with our friends about what we were going to do tomorrow: finish the mile-long hopscotch, introduce a new family member to the Barbie household, or catch more toads than the day prior before nightfall.

Looking back on it, the importance of just being outside truly shaped how we learned, grew up, and function as adults. It was about unstructured time, shared experiences with childhood friends, and a sense of presence that didn’t need documentation or a limited screen time.

Then Came Infamous Screen Time
These childhood experiences are actually a nostalgic feeling that most of us miss. They are something we value. And when we see how children are growing up today, we almost feel bad for what they’re missing out on. We see children being quieted by a tablet screen at dinner tables, placed in front of television screens when parents are cooking dinner, and surrounded by adults who are sucked into their phones while their toddler begs them to play.

If you really think about it, many children today are being taught to relieve boredom through instant stimulation—quick fixes that prioritize distraction over engagement.

In contrast, boredom “back then” was something we had to sit with, and in doing so, we learned to invent, imagine, and create our own ways to fill time.

‍

And sure, one could argue that “back then” technology wasn’t a vital part of our daily lives—it hadn’t evolved yet, access to it was limited, and it simply didn’t hold the same role it does now. However, that doesn’t mean its presence in children’s lives today should be entirely dismissed simply because times are different. That’s not to say children nowadays should avoid technology altogether, but it certainly should not hold a key role in their upbringing.

If we allow technology to dominate childhood, we risk them not having experiences that shape their abilities to be well-rounded, resilient, and imaginative individuals. 

We can all relate to succumbing to the rabbit hole of technology. We’re constantly on our phones, laptops, and televisions. It has assuredly become a regular tool that we rely on in our day-to-day lives. But it’s different for adults. We have the judgment and self-awareness needed to balance our screen time and know when to step away. On the other hand, children are still developing the very skills that allow for this balance and can easily become reliant on technology.

It dominates their attention, stunts their curiosity, and sends the message that entertainment only comes from screens.

‍

A Fruitful Childhood Comes From Curiosity
The children who are growing up as we speak deserve a childhood that is filled with experiences that foster curiosity, exploration, and freedom to uncover things on their own terms—just as we experienced growing up. I’m sure a lot of us can recall biking miles away from home, running toward that one spot in the woods where we were told not to go, and hopping from one friend’s house to another.

Even parenting was different. As children we had more trust from our parents to the point where we could linger far and always make it back home safe. We were able to know what time our curfew was and stick to it. But now, most children can’t ever wander any farther than the point where the driveway meets the sidewalk.