Empty Playgrounds, Thanks To Some 'unknowns Battleground'

profile
Siddhant Aggarwal
Apr 06, 2019   •  65 views

I remember being that kid of eleven,
Sweaty noons for me were heaven.
Out with my team, breaking glasses,
Or my ball would hit anyone who by-passes.
Heatstroke perhaps wasn't born back then,
Oh! I miss being that kid of eleven.

This is something we can relate to. But today's children of this age group won't feel nostalgic when they would cross their colony playground. Yes! That vacant playground where now the grass is mowed so that they don't become homes to insects and pests. Maybe that scythe trimmed the outdoor sports culture. I pass by so many societies, colonies and blocks. Most of them have one thing in common, i.e, Parks where only elder people are strolling, people are walking their dogs, toddlers are out with there mommies. And I actually visualise the scenes where I, with all my friends, used to play cricket, football, catch-me-if-you-can, chains and what not. The ones who are supposed to be out here, are busy in gaming rooms. Thanks to video games and playstations.

And once in a blue moon, if children come out of their houses to play, a minor fall to the ground becomes a painful injury for them. Didn't PUBG or Fortnite make you strong? I remember falling down monstrously, bruising my knee and elbow together, yet I used to stand up, because I knew that my mother won't let me play for another hour, so let's enjoy in this one only. Playing from 11 in the morning,

lunch used to beg for a spare half-an-hour, and back to the ground. One day cricket, one day football and one day any other game. Thank god video games were kept away from us, else we would have never felt the real taste of childhood.

Have today's parents forgotten that their own bones became strong because they played out in the open?

Then why do they hand over their smartphones or tablets to their kids? Not talking about effect on eyesight(everyone knows it since their childhood). But playing outdoors builds sportsmanshipin children, teaching them fairness, adherence to rules and making them strong physically and mentally. This is something no video game would ever do for your development.

With passage of time we are becoming prone to new disease because our lifestyle has eliminated much of our movement. Playing outdoor games is seen by many as a fitness regime. Even our government want children to leave that doomed smartphone and pick up a ball or a bat, spreading the word "Khelo India".

Most importantly, I don'tknow why, but these open grounds are craving these children. How will they recall those in-game moments and laugh, like we do? How will they know that there is a world outside Erangel, a real world?

But speaking of my own society, I am glad that our young ones followed our steps, and not the blind trend. My house is near my society's playground and everyday 5 o' clock I can see children play. The play like us, they hurt themselves the way we used to, they fight amongst themselves, but their game wins altogether. Their parents have actually snatched away phones from them, because they know what it means to play in the open air, amid greenery and real players, not bots and computer peripherals.

Not only mine, there are many colonies where these kids are forsaking video games for real-life cricket, football, badminton and other such sports and classic games. This shows that we aren't the only parties concerned. Salute to those parents who are pushing their over-pampered kids out of the house only to be rough, tough and real players.

While some fields are blessed by these demigods, some patches of grass are eagerly waiting for their arrival. But it feels great to see that some of the new ones are doing justice to the term "playing".

Waiting for those days to return,
When a young boy would hit a shot,
And break that house's window pane.
Waiting for that aunt to come with his ball,
Anger on her forehead, but her smile should say,
"Play carefully little one, don't do it again."

12



  12

Profile of Siddhant Aggarwal
Siddhant Aggarwal  •  4y  •  Reply
Thanks Aarushi :D
Profile of Aarushi Moitra
Aarushi Moitra  •  4y  •  Reply
Amazing writeup😀