Outdoor games are a must for the all-around development of a person, especially in a time when the world is moving towards digitisation and people are more dependent on technology. Children these days are more connected to indoor games like play station or continuously playing mobile games. In such a scenario the charm of outdoor games is missing.
Even before the pandemic, children of the 21st century were more addicted to indoor games than outdoors. Outdoor games develop physical, social, emotional, imaginative, and cognitive development in a budding child which is why they should be encouraged even in the digital era. Exercise improves health and well-being while a safe environment encourages independence.
A local playground is a wonderful place for parents to introduce young children to outdoor games and new friends. Even sporting clubs of the city have developed not only good players but also good citizens and friends forever. However, as time passes these playgrounds are being neglected as the sports activities, have reduced drastically and the pandemic added to the woes. Following less use, the authorities also started neglecting the maintenance of such grounds.
Many of the city playgrounds are on the verge to lose its identity, and are converting into a barren land. One such example is the Bishop Cotton School Ground, Sadar. Located in the heart of city, where big cricket team used to practice. Not only that big cricket tournaments, and other events use to take place.
At present the condition of the ground is pathetic. Five to six feet grass and weeds are growing and from the condition it seems that no care has been taken to remove the grasses from months. This ground is one of the play grounds where regularly sports and games were conducted.
Being a school’s playground, the School Management must do something to clean the ground and make it suitable for at least students if not others. Even the local authorities should understand the importance of games and should look after the maintenance of such playgrounds located in various parts of the city to encourage outdoor games,†said a Nagpur resident.