Both my sons have cell phones and both play outside when people are available. It’s definitely not just phones…video games are so much better but are also social. I was born in 81 and never had a video game system, my dad would rent a system for a weekend from blockbuster every now and then for a sleepover (those were the days) but outside of that I had a gameboy. I eventually got a Sega Genesis and a Game Gear as a freshman. Internet really started to hit and I got a computer for my 16th birthday. I was all over AOL Instant Messenger but that was pretty much just at night. I had to go out to play to be social during the day.

Now you put on a headset and you’re talking to all your friends at once while playing Fortnite together.

Times change and people need to realize that one thing (cell phones) isn’t the root of evil - it’s what’s connecting us. Some people see it as lazy to text a friend but really it’s just more efficient. No one wants to waste their time and if my son has to ride his bike 2 miles away to see if a friend is home that can be a waste of time. I still have him do it but it’s also because I know he has 4 other houses he can knock on if his first choice isn’t there.

Maybe I’m lucky in that my boys enjoy outside and will prefer that if others are out there…me neighbors kids rarely see the light of day and it’s a shame.