Bringing Kids Back into the Physical World
How we can help kids to reconnect with themselves and rediscover the real world that exists offline
As day-to-day activities move more and more online, it becomes increasingly necessary to make a conscious effort to disconnect from devices in order to physically reconnect with ourselves, the real world and other people. This applies to all of us, but is most crucial for children and teens. It is in the interests of all children and teens to reclaim some of the time swallowed by screens and reinvest it in physical activity, ideally outdoors and with other people. Effectively this is replacing something that is toxic to body and mind in large doses with something that is not only beneficial but vital. Getting kids back in action brings a host of benefits, as we will explore, and the travails that so many kids are presently facing point to the need for urgent action in this regard. Helping kids to rediscover the world outside and the simple joys of moving their body and engaging in activity with other kids will go some way to remedying many of the ills that are afflicting modern youth.
What is abundantly clear is that the virtual world is not an adequate substitute for physically experiencing things with our bodies. It is also evident that online activities are displacing the real thing, in part because these options are more available and require less effort. The digital age has brought many benefits but among the risks is that modern youth are becoming more comfortable manipulating an avatar on a screen than acting in the physical world with their bodies. Likewise as social interaction and communication is increasingly mediated through a smartphone or other electronic device, we should not be surprised that kids show less facility with engaging in person and forging real social bonds.
Whilst societal trends had been heading in this direction for some time, the period of the pandemic and most acutely lockdown and remote schooling served to highlight what is lost when daily life and interactions with others moves online. The ongoing fallout we are seeing from that period underlines how necessary it is for kids to move their bodies, get outdoors and physically interact with others on a daily basis in the interests of their development as well as their physical and mental health.
Part of the problem with spending an excessive time in the virtual world is that kids grow to become estranged from their own bodies. It is increasingly necessary to help kids to physically reconnect with themselves. Engaging in some form of physical practice on a regular basis is a requirement for kids to remain attuned with their physical selves as their body grows and develops. One of the reasons that mind-body practices such as yoga boost mood and improve wellbeing is that they provide this - and physically engaging with the body is the most straightforward way to favourably alter our mental state. In the course of engaging the body in movement and exploring what it is capable of kids will likely discover a newfound affinity for the body they inhabit.
For many kids growing up as digital natives, there is a similar need to physically reconnect with others. Despite all the promise of connectivity, an ever-increasing number of children and teens report being lonely in the digital age. Interacting in person offers a considerably richer and more rewarding experience than interactions mediated via a screen. Once again, the period of the pandemic not only underscored this point but also exemplified the negative consequences that kids suffer when in-person interaction is restricted.
As a social species, being in physical proximity with others has enormous value and is something we crave. Cultivating real friendships and genuine connection requires spending time in person - and actually attending to the other person rather than being distracted by devices. Engaging in person is likewise crucial for social learning and is necessary to develop and practice the ability to read non-verbal cues and communicate effectively. This helps to explain the growing prevalence of social anxiety among children and teens. With less opportunity to develop the requisite facility for in-person interaction, it is unsurprising that the prospect of engaging with others in real life might make kids anxious, especially as they approach their teens and become more self conscious.
Sadly spending time in the company of other kids does not ensure that they will actually engage with each other - an all too common sight is kids together alone, each of them engrossed in their smartphone. However, engaging in activity together makes kids less liable to lapse into this antisocial and yet widely accepted behaviour.
For kids who have become accustomed to viewing the world through a screen there is similarly a need to reconnect with the physical world and the rediscover the wonders that exist out in nature. We need to provide kids with the encouragement and opportunity to get outside as much as possible. Simply spending time outdoors brings its own rewards. Sunlight exposure not only lifts our mood but also boosts immune function and supports physical health. Walking in nature relieves stress and benefits body and mind. Being exposed to an enriched environment is one of very few conditions that stimulates the growth of brain matter and rewiring of neural connections - and this is true throughout the lifespan, so it is also pertinent for parents and grandparents! Being in nature offers an especially rich experience as conditions are so dynamic that even walking the same route on a day-to-day basis offers a different experience each time.
Beyond being physically present in surroundings that are stimulating, using the body to explore and physically interact with features within the environment adds another dimension. Physical exercise and movement likewise stimulate growth and rewiring in the brain, so engaging in activity outdoors in nature combines the respective benefits of physical exercise and environmental enrichment in developing the brain and body.
Kids’ brains and bodies respond best to novelty and variety, so to support their development we should facilitate opportunities to continually seek out new and different ways to stimulate their senses and challenge themselves. With young children, for whom everything is novel and interesting, we naturally assist and encourage their efforts to explore and interact with their surroundings using their bodies and engage with others. Yet the need for this exploratory activity remains with older children and extends into adolescence, not least to stay attuned with themselves they grow and develop and to remain properly situated in the evolving social world they inhabit. It is at these later stages in kids’ development where we need to act to ensure that appropriate opportunities and encouragement continues to be forthcoming, which is often not the case at present.
A variety of activities and practices are well-suited to helping kids to connect with their bodies and to challenge themselves physically on a regular basis, from gymnastics to yoga. Regularly engaging in some sort of physical practice will in turn expand the capabilities of the body over time, opening up new possibilities for them to explore, creating a virtuous cycle. Sport of course offers a world of possibilities in this regard; however, we must preserve and encourage opportunities for unstructured participation and free play to allow kids to experience the full benefits.
Hiking, running, cycling and paddling are great ways to get out and explore. Engaging in more creative forms of exploratory activity is also a way to discover new and exciting ways to physically interact with structures and obstacles within the environment. Younger children do this automatically, grown-ups permitting, whereas older kids often need some help to rediscover the habit. Parkour is proving to be highly effective gateway to this exploration, with many coaches and gyms now offering programmes specifically tailored for children and youth to provide them with the competence and confidence to playfully engage with their surroundings using their bodies.
Beyond solo activity, adding a partner or other players not only adds a social element but also opens up a whole new set of challenges and opportunities. Engaging in partner activities, ranging from dance to martial arts, challenge kids to coordinate their movements and physically respond to a partner. Participating in group activity enables kids to interact with others in a variety of ways, including physically. As in other mammals, juvenile males have a particular need for physical activity with others that has an element of physical contact, such as rough and tumble play. The opportunity to engage in this type of physical play with others is increasingly restricted outside of the context of sport, which makes it all the more important that we create appropriate opportunities to ensure this need is satisfied.