An original speech on Indoor & Outdoor Games debate, written by our student Pratyush Mohile.

Pratyush is 10 years old, a young orator from Mumbai. We are proud to have him as a student of the Little Kathakar Program, an Online Public Speaking through Applied Storytelling & Theatre Program under the mentorship of Trainer Khusshbo Chokhaani. We congratulate Pratyush for this exemplary true self-expression.

Indoor Games Vs Outdoor Games

Are you one of those parents or teachers who support outdoor games more than indoor games or criticize outdoor games? You must listen to my theory.

Today’s generation of children is often criticized for staying inside too much or not going out enough. Indeed, soccer and climbing trees seem to have been replaced with TV consoles and video games, much to the despair of some parents. It is easy to highlight the benefits of outdoor play but is playing outside truly better than playing inside? Or is indoor play not as advantageous as outdoor play? Let’s debunk a few myths about Indoor Play. Indoor play is not just sitting around or staring at a screen. Playing indoors may involve anything from video games to arts and crafts, as well as activities such as board games, and puzzles, or going to an indoor playground constitutes an integral part of Indoor Play.

Research shows one of the benefits of indoor play is that it encourages expansive creativity and critical thinking. For Example: – Activities like storytelling, art and craft, painting, and playing board games push children to be inventive, and imaginative. In Outdoor games, we are using limited critical thinking and creativity as we have rules to adhere to in outdoor games.

Few may say that Indoor Activities don’t have physical activity and I strongly disagree with it. Dancing, and playing hide and seek, are the perfect example of activities that promote physical activity even in an indoor setting.

In addition, other benefits of indoor play include a lower risk of injury and a convenient alternative for rainy days. Indoor playgrounds, for instance, greatly reduce the risk of danger and injury through soft matting or foam in case of any falls. Whereas in outdoor games there is always a high level of risk involved. Once I was playing football and fractured my leg. I missed 10 days of school. Though my parents dread it, let me tell you I loved it.

Indoor games create happiness, reduce stress, and are an excellent opportunity to spend time with family members. For instance- Covid 19 lockdown period has shown this to all of us because we used to play games with family members to go through the day. Whereas outdoor games create stress because of stamina drainage and unhealthy competitive feeling in the so-called matches.

Indoor Play actively strengthens memory formation and cognitive skills. For example- In games like Dumcharades, we try to recall the movie name through mime activity. Outdoor games have just a few rules to remember and they become firm with regular practice. In fact, our teachers can use indoor games to teach classroom concepts in an experiential way.

Do you know indoors play an active role in improving Hand-Eye Coordination? The game of badminton is a perfect example of this because while our eye is on the shuttle our hand is ready for the stroke. Now you may say we can achieve the same benefit in cricket or basketball game. Well, not every teenager is keen to be on the ground under the sun.

One of the core disadvantages of outdoor games is their unpredictable nature. For example- Once I was playing rugby and it started raining. When I reached home, I had caught an obnoxious cold and missed 6 days of school. Playing in outdoor playgrounds means you are prone to infectious diseases coming from rain, hail, or even snow, depending on the country you live in. That’s why I love indoor games.

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