Me too. Never wanted to go in. In America it seems as if parents are terrified of stranger danger, both parents or single parents work so are not at home, no one knows their neighbors. Is it by design? I think it’s possible. I loved my adventurous childhood and kids are inside on virtual reality, inappropriate videos and games, or social media. I think it is not progress.

Video games are ruining today's kids, he wrote on his iPad.

We say the same, my kids grew up in the bush, they would be gone for hours, you would here kids in all directions just not see them. We moved to the coast, this town had under 3500 people at the time, yet my kids were the only ones on the beach. Now they are in their 30s, we have some of the best beaches in the world, and none of the kids in our street go there, either alone or with their parents.

Ours was a free range family and we also were out of the house more. TV was B & W and there weren't a lot of kids programs. Even though mom was at home she wanted us out of her hair (so she could visit the neighbors). There were vacant lots everywhere and we never heard of mass shootings. The violence creates a fear to not let your kids outside. This becomes a vicious cycle. I wonder how charter schools will deal with the gun issue?

Being distracted by TV and consoles..A talking to B through headphones in their bedrooms.

Sometimes you can still see the kiddos running about and having fun outside, but for the most part, they are kept inside. Mostly it's the fear parents have; fear of abduction, fear of danger, fear of being reported for their kids being left outside without supervision...

And that last one is silly, but true. Apparently, there have been stories of parents getting in trouble for allowing their children to play in their front yards without adult supervision. And I'm talking wee ones....like six and older. An age where you'd expect young ones to play with mom or dad checking on them, but not having to watch them like a hawk. It's ridiculous!

The kids are getting repetitive strain injury on their thumbs, didn't you ever worry about your parents never going home @Millie or do you ring once in a while?

My childhood was the same as yours and I had so much fun I did not want to grow up. Today's kids are sitting on the couch playing with their iPhone, iPad, Android tablet.

Dying slow deaths due to inactivity.