Recalling A Time Of Technological Innocence

As I reminisce on my childhood, I remember the many days and nights spent outside with family and friends. I recall playing baseball with my little brother, swinging on the swing set with my mom, and practicing my volleyball skills with my dad.

I often think about the great times I had spent outdoors as a child until technology was introduced into my life and Wii became an overwhelming aspect of my life. Wii made it possible for me to still channel my competitive side and use up all the pent-up energy that I had as a kid while in contrast affecting my social skills and love for the outdoors.

Prior to Wii, my childhood consisted largely of being outdoors and getting fresh air. My brother and I were both very hyperactive children who had a lot of pent-up energy and my parents had to find ways to use up all of that energy. My brother and I would play any sport we could think of whether it was baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, we were playing it. We were constantly making up games or teaching each other games we had learned at daycare or school like kickball or foursquare. Once we were a little older, we would hang out with the neighborhood kids or my cousins and we would teach them our games. My brother and I were incredibly competitive and never handled losing very well so this gave us an outlet to channel our competitiveness. Playing outside was a way that we could stay active and have fun with our friends and family.

I was eight years old when I got my first Nintendo Wii, every kid either had or wanted one. I would get home from school and play games like Wipeout, Just Dance, Wii Sports Resort, or Wii Fit Plus on my Wii all night. Games like swordfight, wakeboarding, or obstacle course helped me to channel my competitive side because I had to beat the level to unlock new locations and harder levels. I would spend hours trying to beat the high score so that I could unlock those new levels or rewards. Games like Wipeout and Just Dance were fun outlets for me to be active and silly. It kept me and my brother entertained while inadvertently using up all that energy we had. Just Dance was my parents personal favorite for tiring us out right before bed. My days of playing outside and going on bike rides with my friends got shorter as I became consumed with my Wii.

Wii certainly diminished my love for the outdoors. I often found myself looking outdoors and thinking to myself, “Wow, I have not been out there in a while.” Going outside just to swing on the swing set or kick a ball around started to seem like a chore. I would get almost instantly bored because I had no one to play with or I would get annoyed as soon as I saw a bug. To this day I am still not a big outdoors person and I believe my Wii played a role in that. I constantly have the urge to go outside and ride a bike or take a walk like I used to when I was a kid but as soon as I do, I usually regret it.

I do also think that my Wii played a large role in my lack of social skills as a child. I was so used to playing by myself or with a family member that I began to find it difficult socializing with my peers. If you ask any of my family members, they will tell you that as a child, I loved having the spotlight on me. However, during my later elementary years and my early junior high years is when I started to find it difficult for me to talk to people. I noticed myself becoming more and more shy and not really wanting to communicate with my peers unless they were close friends. I became so accustomed to being by myself that I lacked basic communication skills.

I think at sometimes Wii even created a feeling of aggression in me. My cousins and I would go over to my grandparents’ house and play in the basement all day. As the oldest grandchild, I always found myself bossing my younger brother and cousins around. I constantly wanted to play Wii at my grandparents’ house and would get angry when the boys just wanted to have a Big Wheels race.

After a few years more and more technology was being introduced into my life, some benefiting me and some affecting me. My teen years and young adulthood has since been entirely filled with technology. I have lost touch with the things that I loved most as a child because I have become so consumed with technology and often forget what a luxury it is.

While I do believe that my Wii affected me in a few negative ways, I also think it was extremely beneficial for me. I was still able to stay active and be competitive which are two aspects that have stuck with me. Since starting college, I have really come out of my shell and do not find it difficult to talk to or make friends now. I may still have a fear of public speaking but don’t we all? I have begun immersing myself in the outdoors and trying to regain that love that I once had for the outdoors. It might be difficult, but I am determined to turn my technological experience into an entirely positive one.

Wii was my initial introduction to technology that shifted my life from one of technological innocence to a life filled with technology. At eight years old, I never would have been able to tell you that technology would have become so prevalent in my life. Technology has become a crucial aspect to my day-to-day life, and I have Wii to thank for introducing me to that lifestyle.