Go outside and play!

I'm delighted to say that I've noticed that children seem to be reemerging from the enclosed walls of their homes and are engaged in outdoor play. For the past several years I've walked, biked and driven my way around towns noticing the lack of children at play. Swing sets sat abandoned, the only motion offered by passing breezes, sidewalks were bare of chalked hop-hotch, lawns languished sans footpaths and body imprints, even driveways lacked the toppled bikes and tossed aside jumpropes and skateboards.

Lately though I've noted a return of children - hoola-hooping, hide-n-seeking, tree climbing, bike riding and running across lawns - Ah, they're finally back. I wonder if our slowing economy is literally bringing the children back to the great outdoors and to the world of imagination. Perhaps mom and dad are finally stating they can't afford all the electronic gadgets and games and are saying, "Go outside and play!"  Or is it that people are simply tired of that computer, t.v. or phone screen and are embracing the realness of true life and living?

Whatever the case may be, I'm glad to see the children playing again. Now go outside and play!