New Ad Shows the Terrifying Reality of What's Happening to Our Kids Because of Technology
In this day and age, we’ve become extremely reliant upon technology, and the same goes for our children, too.
According to CBS News, the American Heart Association reported that children from ages 8 to 18 are spending an average of seven hours in front of screens each day.
Those are hours kids could be spending outside, playing with friends or being creative. What happened to board games and tree forts and putting on plays for the entire neighborhood?
A new ad created by Nature Valley Canada approached this topic in a way that really hits home. If you’re a parent, this video is for you.
The ad starts with older generations, parents and grandparents, being asked what they liked to do for fun as a child.
Their answers are heartwarming and nostalgic. One elderly lady said she liked to go blueberry picking. Have your kids ever done anything like this?
Others discussed growing things in a garden. One grandfather even shared about a time when he turned an old sign into a toboggan.
When the ad moves on to the younger generation, however, the answers are strikingly different. There is no mention of going outside or even playing with friends.
“My favorite thing to do in the world is definitely watching videos and playing video games,” one young man says. “Those take up so much of my time.”
Watch the other children as they give similar responses. This may be an ad for Nature Valley, but it’s also a sobering reminder of what some of our kids are missing out on.
When the little boy explains how he forgets about his family and even his dog when he’s playing games, it’s more than a little heartbreaking.
The worst comment might be when one of the girls says, “I would die if I don’t have my tablet.” Would your kids say the same?
I think the mom’s tears are probably what got to me the most. Is it time for a change? Maybe to get our kids off the screen and out of the house — out in nature?
The creators of this advertisement seem to believe so. As one mom noted, so many of our children are “missing out on what’s out there in the beautiful world.” Is it time to be the difference in our kid’s lives? The choice is up to each of us. What will you choose?
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