A story carried in the Lifestyle section of Tuesday's Gleaner reminded us of the games children played before the advent of technology.

The children of today know little of playing marbles or 'Chinese skip'. In fact, if the game does not come in a fancy package with attachments for a computer, they'll have none of it. This is especially true of children who are raised in the corporate area. It is no secret that these children are exposed to more advanced technology, and as a result, have little or no interest in the activities that rural children enjoy.

Stopping cultural imperialism

What is perhaps even more important is the fact that as the popularity of these games die, our culture also dies. Though we may take things like games for granted, it is a fact that they keep our children grounded. Many video and online games introduce children to adult material at young ages and there is no doubt that this exposure will shape a child's behaviour.

With the growing popularity of cable and the internet, we are already at a disadvantage in the fight to preserve our culture. Our children are becoming Americanised before our eyes and in many cases, we are perpetuating the loss of identity.

If we are to stop this cultural imperialism before it gets too late, we need to first recognise the importance of preserving our heritage. Once we get to this point, it's as simple as monitoring the activities our children engage in and ensuring that we get them to understand and appreciate our culture.