July 15, 2019
A recent article in The New York Times (linked here) entitled "Now Some Parents are Hiring Coaches to Help Them Raise Phone-Free Children," discusses the disconcerting phenomenon of youthful (and adult) addiction to screen "relationships" over real ones. For those familiar with George Orwell's futuristic book, 1984, the crisis will seem eerily familiar and unsettling.
This is one of the ways I see the Y and our core focus on community and relationship-building as a profoundly important antidote to the present day cultural shifts away from people being able to simply and civilly interacting on a human level. It's a powerful tide we’re fighting and one which threatens us all, particularly when the dots are connected from social isolation to depression, hatred and worse.
It is with this in mind that I share the comment below sent in by a Druid Hill Y camp parent about her child’s experience:
"It helps the kids connect with other kids. They are learning from each other and they are learning to be kind to other kids who may be different from them. They are motivated and it gives the kids something to look forward to this summer. My kids now only play games on the weekends, mainly Sunday, because on Saturdays they have basketball at the Y. They are so busy, they get up with me in the morning and I drop them off on my way to work and pick them in the evening after work. They are tired and ready to eat and go to sleep. No time for electronics. I love it.
My youngest talks a lot now. He tells me it is time to have conversations. Because that is what he is learning at the Y. He wants to have time for discussions with family. They Y is helping him think outside the box and learning that you get more in life through talking and learning and understand your needs. Spending hours on end watching TV and playing games does not open the kids’ minds to more. I like that it's opening their minds to see more and to learn more."
Thanks to this happy Y parent for writing this great note and being an active and engaged parent! Of course, the great team at the Druid Hill Y, led by the irrepressible Jayson Green, deserve great credit. Bravo! Keep up the great work!
Many thanks as well to the Bradley Foundation, Brown Capital and McCormick Flavor For Life for their support of the Druid Hill Y summer enrichment program and for their belief in communities and real connections.
All the best,
John
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland