It was not much before when parents used to scold children for spending too much time in playing in mohallas and societies. I am taLking about the golden era of the 90s when technology was a rare phenomenon and internet was almost an unknown species for most of the Indians. Playing with rain and mud, climbing trees, running across lanes, what a fun it was! Whether it was summer morning or winter evening, we couldn't afford to miss out on 'luka-chupi' or 'police-chor' even a day. Wasn't it one of the reasons why we loved visiting our granny's home?
However, with the advent of digital era, things have drastically changed. We hardly see streets with cheerful children shouting their lungs out. It is all barren as mobile phones and computers have taken the place of real friends. Parents hand over mobile phones to kids at a very young age to distract them or make them eat. Little do they know that there are several side effects of staying indoor.
Poor Health: When kids spend long hours sitting on couch, bed and playing video games or watching TV, they are most likely to develop obesity. Their bone strength and cardiovascular health can get adversely affected.
Poor Social Skills: Virtual world is a poor substitute for real world. Playing outside with other kids makes a child more social. The interaction improves the social skill and makes the kid more lively. On the other hand, child staying indoor are more likely to be less interactive and cheerful.
Lack of Creativity: Children are like clay, you can mould them any way you want. If at the intial stage, they start keeping themselves involved in gadgets, then it can hinder their brain development. Playing outdoor games foster a kid's imagination and increases his/her problem solving skill.
Detachment from Nature: Those were the days when kids used to enjoy swings tied on trees and play near ponds. Now, when children spend most of the time indoors, they are likely to get separated from the nature. The sense of appreciation of these god gifted things diminishes as they lack knowledge about the environment. They also start caring less about preservation and protection of their surrounding.
Now imagine a kid's happiness who is running through the picturesque landscape? Super happy, isn't it? The Salwan Marathon is all about spirit of running. Covering Babool and Kikar and crossing rivulets and bushy shrubs, it brings children close to nature, offering them majestic experience. In this, selected children from various schools undergo training to compete in the race.
Don't make your kid a dull child. Let him/her run wildly!
