I think all the reasons already mentioned pretty well cover the bases (so to speak) on why kids are getting injured more. They’re just not used to being asked to do ANYTHING physical at all. And I do think the marvels of A/C have made wimps of ALL of us, adults included. But that’s no excuse.

Turn off the TV, get outside and DO something! It’s that simple. No excuses. No “yeah, but … ” Just get out there or at the VERY least turn off the TV and video games and find an indoor activity that really DOES get the heart rate going.

P.E. is not what it use to be. Like many of you, in elementary P.E. was about jumping jacks and learning basic skills of different sports. It was about healthy competition during Olympic week where for one entire week you spent half the day outdoors training and on that Friday you spent the entire day outdoors participating in Olympic type games. P.E. in middle school was about learning the basics to many different sports. P.E. in high school was almost non-existent; I received my exercise through marching band.

In elementary there was only one occasion where a student had to be taken to the ER and that was because she slid and fell and when she landed, her leg was at an odd angle and she could not move it. However, within a week, we were all outdoors again at PE and she was just hopping along with and sometimes without her crutches.

I think it is a combination of : 1) children hurting muscles that are not used often or never; 2) ER visit as a prevention of being sued; 3) ER visit as a precaution for serious injuries (blow to the head, neck, and/or chest/heart); and 4) ER visits for the uninsured.

I also think I grew up playing with about half of you! Actually no, most kids did grow up playing outside until the 90s I guess -or maybe the mid-80s? That seems to be when this “uber parenting” overprotective craziness came about.

this article might begin to explain some of it…

http://www.caller.com/news/2009/apr/05/poor-access-to-primary-care-increases-illness/

I have to tell you…there are some VICIOUSLY judgmental re-bloggers here.

I can also read on a swing, a spin top, while walking, while see sawing…basically the only time I put the book down is when I go underwater!

My passion has always been reading, swimming, and hiking in that order. I do less of the latter 2 as I get older.

Yea, and all my scars are from battlewounds, and I wore them with pride. I had stitches from falling off my bike, the monkey bars at school, etc.

Also, I remember riding the city bus (at age 10) down to the community pool. I got hurt there, once again requiring stitches, but all we did was walk across the street to my Dad’s office, and he ran me to the doctor…

We had the ER on retainer when I was young…..one summer my Mom tried to keep me indoors, but I ended up tripping on a floor pillow, and hit my head on the tv and needed 4 stitches……..I’ve had more stitches than anyone I know……..but I grew up in a neighborhood with a ton of boys and I wanted to be out there doing what they were doing, not playing dolls inside with the girls……

This is just the most recent example, I could give more that go all the way back to Kindergarten so it is not just one teacher or even one school.

And I agree with your comments re ADD/ADHD.

If your parents weren’t available to “doctor” you up, you could go to your friend’s house, and their parents would doctor you up as if you were one of their own. If you came home with a band-aid that was completely different from the ones you had at home, your parents would know someone else looked after you, and they’d call your friend’s parents to thank them, not to threaten lawsuit.

Your parents might invite your friend’s parents over to dinner as a way of saying thanks for fixing up their kid. That would be bonus for you, because your friend would probably come over as well, and you could play some more, either indoors or out, and there was the possibility of your friend spending the night.

Boy, how times have changed.