Reading, Interacting and Exercising.. We are slacking as role models.

“If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything.” -Malcom X

    What happened to reading for fun? What happened to playing outside with your friends? What happened to the craving for knowledge and love of learning? Do kids nowadays just have too many other options and distractions? With cell phones, video games, TV and the internet they have “better things to do” than actively participate in their own lives. They definitely have entertainment higher on their priority list than reading and studying. Sadly, this phenomenon is not limited to today’s youth, it permeates every age of our culture right now. 

    We are setting the example…

    As adults we need to be conscientious of the fact that we are setting the example not just for our own children, but for all children and future generations. If a child sees his parents doing nothing but watching television, surfing the web and playing video games that is exactly what they will do. We all know children of every species learns by mimicking the adults and elders in their lives. That is just how societies and life works, we learn from those who have come before us. So why aren’t we being better role models?

    We are no better than our children…

    Because we are just as jaded and bored with life as they are. We have lost our love of life and the joy of simple pleasures and just being alive. We no longer feel the need to truly experience life because we can live via the media and internet. Those of us who are physically able to exercise do not take advantage of the awesomeness of being able to walk and run and jump to keep our bodies and minds fit. We would rather sit around and watch TV and watch people on TV exercise while we complain about obesity in our country, being overweight and out of shape. And we wonder why this generation is so not as healthy as they should be?

    Times have changed...

    Growing up my mother insisted that we ride our bikes, get involved in sports, and play outside with our friends as often as possible. Now children substitute these interactions with interactive video games, chat through social media and get together in chat rooms or group texts. They do not know any better because this is exactly the behavior they see modeled for them day in and day out by their parents and other adults.

    Why not get out a book on a tablet or a real one and read? Why not go outside and ride bikes as a family? Saturdays in the park as a family are gone. I myself prefer a real book with pages that I can turn, and I prefer yoga to running a marathon but I am still being actively involved. If we want to make a difference in the lives of the future generations then we must set the example. They mimic what they see and are reinforced by constant exposure to this behavior just as we were as children.

    We have a responsibility and we are slacking…

    Parents and other adults do not see the responsibility we have in this age of being able to completely withdraw from activities and yet still participate from afar. Yes they model their parents and teachers, but they also have the ability to find other adult role models online anytime they choose if parents do not step up to the plate.

    We have an obligation to the children to show them the right way to do things and we are seriously slacking.