Are children today engaging in more or less creative play compared to previous generations?
Why? Children are engaged in less creative play than people three to four generations ago. We have access to so many conveniences and resources that make our lives easier. While this has been wonderful, it has come at a cost. We have lost our enthusiasm for active and outdoor play, and our creativity has suffered. Even infants’ toys now make sounds and have flashing lights, etc. Our need to improvise, pretend or make something out of something else has been dramatically reduced in the last 50 years. As a result, children have expectations that they won’t have to create but items and play will be provided for them. Children used to be able to be given a few items and they could entertain themselves for extended periods of time by being creative. Now even infants have to have a DVD playing while they’re riding in a car.
