----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Bennett" <bennett.mab at gmail.com>
Do kids still play? I haven't any myself, so I don't know. I certainly don't see kids playing anywhere in my daily travels. You don't even see kids riding bikes very much. My colleagues who have school age children seem to spend every free moment, and many that aren't free, driving their children everywhere. On former colleague used to leave the office early to drive her 16-year daughter to "cheer practice" - although her family lived four blocks from the high school. ___________________________________
They don't play all that much. Especially not free social play that I had from morning to night, just by stepping out on the street. No one steps out on the street. Public space became closed to children about 25 years ago.
They play only in private spaces, and the achievement race starts early and is unrelenting.
Joanna