Last month I wrote about the benefits of unsupervised play, that children who play outdoors with other children learn not only physical skills but how to get along with other children, how to play fair, to be creative, to learn how to get up when knocked down. I’m aware that people my age bemoan the loss of the vacant lot, as the benefits of such play remain. Physical skills are only learned through physical activity. Learning to interact with other children is only done through face-to-face activity, not through the phone. We have organized sports for children, but these are seasonal and run by adults, and all children are not involved.

Meanwhile, our children are probably less healthy than ever. The incidence of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, anxiety, and depression continue to increase. Physical play is one antidote. Studies by social scientists have observed the decreased independent mobility of children. In 1970 children were free to go outside and play, cycle in the street, and walk to school. One study on 8 year olds found children normally ranging around 900 yards in 1970. By 1997 that number went to around 300 yards, and in 2007 the range was the front gate. Why?

There is more than one reason for this precipitous change in child mobility, but fear is high on the list. I’m reminded of the literature I received from an organization when my younger son started the first grade. The organization was selling identification kits so that we could identify our children after they were abducted. Their literature said that one out of 12 would be abducted every year — pretty scary. There were 24 children in the class, and I calculated that if that were true, almost half would be gone by the sixth grade. Six years later they were all there.

Parents are not to blame for this fear. Agencies make money by selling fear. Childhood abductions are followed carefully in the 24 hour news. Television shows are ripe with such crimes, making money on tragedy. Talk show participants routinely throw out misinformation on crime. If you listen to our politicians, crime is way up and there’s a gang on every corner just waiting to catch our children. But all of this information is wrong. We need to look at real, not fake, data.

There was crime in the 1970’s when many of our current parents were playing outdoors. They fondly remember those days. Is there more crime now? Data from the FBI has shown a downward spiral in crime. What about abductions, the big fear? Businesses present erroneous data reporting missing children. There is a big difference between a child being missing versus taken. A child who is simply late from school is missing, especially if the parent has called the police. Missing children go into the data. Second, children who are taken are almost always taken by estranged parents or relatives. Meanwhile, the chances of child abduction by a stranger are 0.0002%.

Fear is only one reason children are not out playing. Have children forgotten how to play without supervision? Today’s technology is so enticing and entertaining that kicking around a ball may just not compete. Television, video games, and the phone are tantalizing. Social media is addictive. We now know that children can be hurt through social media, that not actually talking to anyone might be lonely. Maybe their bedrooms are not as safe as we think.

Let’s face it, the era of the vacant lot is gone. Community parks are fine but not that close for many. One approach is to make your own yard more attractive to youngsters. Forget the lawn. Some of these ideas cost money, but I believe well spent. A basketball hoop is attractive to most, but don’t get the cheapest. Kids love to dribble so try to facilitate that. If you have the money, put in an asphalt surface or improve your driveway. This can be used for skating, hitting balls, and other games. You can even plow it in the winter. Put up a backboard for tennis or pickleball. Adapt to what children want. None of my children liked basketball but my older boy would bike for miles to skateboard on a ramp at a friend’s house. Put money into some gear like balls, bats, frisbees, outdoor games.

Above all, make your home welcome. Food helps. Children should want to play at your house. Remember that their play should be unsupervised. Leave them alone.

Jim Johnson is a retired professor of exercise and sport science after teaching 52 years at Smith College and Washington University in St. Louis. He comments about sport, exercise, and sports medicine. He can be reached at jjohnson@smith.edu.