作者：北美考试教学中心 托福写作组 李砚丹

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the rapid development of science and technology has brought a great impact on people's lives, and has also changed the entertainment methods of contemporary children. Everywhere, computers and portable electronic products fill the daily lives of children. In view of this, some people think that children today are overly dependent on entertainment brought by electronic products; playing with some simple toys or playing outdoors with friends can bring more positive effects to children. I have to say that I very much agree with this view.

First of all, simple games can better expand children's creativity. Electronic products and games have deprived children of their imagination and creativity to some extent. When we enter a game interface, a large number of game instructions, introductions and settings rush to the face; hence, children do not need to rely on their own imagination to understand the game - they can complete the game as long as they follow the instructions. However, the simple game brings a completely different situation. If children are given building blocks, crayons, or white paper, they will try to use these most basic elements to create concrete things. Whether it’s building a skyscraper with building blocks or drawing a house with crayons, this kind of creation from nothing is stimulating the imagination of children, allowing them to get inspiration from real life, through the processing of the brain and then the creation with their own hands.

Secondly, playing outdoors with friends not only brings healthy physical and mental development, but also has a role in interpersonal relationships that should not be underestimated. It is commonplace that outdoor play is conducive to the physical and mental health of children. People often ignore that the communication with friends during play has a potentially huge impact on children's personality and interpersonal development as well. Communicating and making friends with peers allows children to learn the skills of getting along with others through interaction in a free environment. They play with their friends, and even quarrel over trivial matters, which is a process of learning. In this process, children's language skills and interpersonal skills have been exercised. At this time, if the parents give appropriate guidance, it will be beneficial to the development of the child's character simultaneously. If children are allowed to spend too much time in the virtual world with people they can’t see, and wait until they are adolescents, or even adulthood, to develop a kind personality, it might be too late.

In summary, from the perspective of children's overall development, I think that the benefits of playing with simple toys or playing outdoors are far more than the benefits of using electronic products.