Posted on: 08-12-06 14:57:41
I wonder if we desis are raising our kids as nerds. This is just based on my experience. Whenever desi kids come over to our place, all they want to do is to run to the computer. Or worst they just want to sit and chat (must have got it from their moms). Where is the instinct of children playing that has some physical activity such as jump rope, air hockey, tag, etc. I even got the carom board from Toronto last year so that kids could play. Most desi kids have no clue what it is. My kids like sports. They complain that they had enough of spending hours on computer or chitchat when other desi kids come over. Some desi parents are proud that their kid(s) wear glasses and talk abt email and internet. I don’t see what special is there.
Am I alone on this or other parents have the same issue.
Quote:
Originally posted by desi in ottawa
I wonder if we desis are raising our kids as nerds. This is just based on my experience. Whenever desi kids come over to our place, all they want to do is to run to the computer. Or worst they just want to sit and chat (must have got it from their moms). Where is the instinct of children playing that has some physical activity such as jump rope, air hockey, tag, etc. I even got the carom board from Toronto last year so that kids could play. Most desi kids have no clue what it is. My kids like sports. They complain that they had enough of spending hours on computer or chitchat when other desi kids come over. Some desi parents are proud that their kid(s) wear glasses and talk abt email and internet. I don’t see what special is there.
Am I alone on this or other parents have the same issue.
Though I dont think its a desi issue I do agree with your observations. The physical inactivity also leads to unhealthy weight. This has been pointed out as one of the leading causes of obesity in Canada's children. BTW: Carrom board is not exactly an active sport but I'd have my kids play board games than computer/tv.
My daughter and son have to earn computer time just like they have to earn TV time. In the case of my daughter its one chapter a book(fiction) for hlf hr of TV or computer. The son is a kindergartener so its a bit more relaxed.
They can either read a book or play some physical games, draw/paint...go outside play in snow, play/chat with the parents, go for a walk etc. After all this they get to watch a bit TV and maybe sit on the computer. Maybe seven hrs/week with both comp/tv combined. The majority of this is done on weekends.
Also, I am always in the room...working at my own station whenever kids are online. I like to keep a watch...just like I censor what they watch on TV. I have already informed my daughter on topics like cyber-bullying and sexual predators on the internet.
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My Daughter is close to 4 ... so I have not that of a problem yet. But to keep her active & to cultivate some interests - She already has started learning Skating & Swimming. Basement is all clear - one long stretch for Roller Blades. She is fine skating alone, but I have to accompany her for Swimming. Stretching/Gymnastics is next in Radar. Our idea is to get her hooked to some sports/activity.
She has access to Computer/TV - Not that strict yet. She does more than what I can even think of (kids are amazing in observing). But fortunitely she does not play for long (not even 30 min).
Sidenote:
Quote:
Originally posted by desi in ottawa
(must have got it from their moms).
Chat comes from Moms ... Computer comes from Pops - as they are busy on Canadiandesi ...
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Mumbai Maazi Ladki ...
Nerds in Canada only? Even in India, how many children do you see on the playing grounds? Astonishingly, the figures are going down...dwindling fast. Just forget about them knowing of gulli dandaa, marbles, tops, langdi, kho kho, kabbadi and many more that we used to play even in mohallas and streets. Its gone, even in India!! ...These are the games that we culturally inherited. Our forefathers and our parents and even we all used to to play.... Nothing had changed for generations!! How many do we find them playing in India now? Now, worldwide, the whole perception has changed. And its sudden. Its an era of TV boom, video games, computers et al. Nothing much we can do about it. Whether we like it or not! Its a changing world and a changing life style amongst the younger generation. For good or bad, only the time shall tell.
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Lead, Kindly Light!!
Oh yes.. I remember those days having gulli dandaa, marbles, tops, langdi, kho kho, kabbadi. Even all hot summer in day time we play all that.
But at least in North America we have community center, public library, gyms, open parks of unlimited size, clean lakes & river, nice skiing places, unlimited drive in jungles, a lot of natural beauty that we can feel God creation.
But what I noticed in Delhi and same holds good in other Indian big cities.
When I was kid we have lot of open land like no park but open land. So we can go there and play cricket or anything. Now I can see houses and houses all over places. There is small/big parks still there that left by govt. but they are parks having grass and all time full of people. Now you can not play cricket, football or any other game which can be dangerous to anyone.
For playing cricket in Delhi you have to be in school team or have to go for professional training. I don’t think that can solve the problem of kids which want to play few hrs in a day just for fun (not for training).
Now everything becomes so fast and difficult in Delhi that all look over high tech to me that bring head ache after sometime.
No parks, no trees near houses, no bare lands, no Agriculture in suburbs, no kids on street playing anything, no cycle on street, gas station have lines all time, no parking available on streets or shopping malls, people always talking about technology, jobs, salary, companies, development, cars, movie, shopping expensive stuff.
For seeing natural beauty and for cycling, hiking, skiing, river rafting, camping, clean wild lakes and areas, you need to take 3-4 days off and go to Himachal Pradesh that is nearest.
Holds true is :
"What money can buy is available there, for other natural things we don't know what you saying"
In summer all GORA kids are out in the nature doing Mountaineering,Kayaking,Rock climbing,Trekking,Camping , quadding and in Winter sledding,skating, or snow mobiling but havent seen much desi kids do it.
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You know you are a desi when ........ You spew forth the virtues of India, but don't want to live there...............You've never had a tanning salon membership
In winter too, life does not stop.
Banff, Golden and all over BC resorts are full in winter. Most of these places are more expensive in winter than summer. I was in Banff in this weekend and it looks so beautiful in winter and so many people there. That is different type of beauty than summer.
My point is we have to have open place to do activities in summer or winter.
