Sweet TnT Magazine Trinidad and Tobago Culture
Related Articles
Marc Algernon explores the cultural shift in childhood experiences during the July and August holiday period in Trinidad and Tobago, contrasting nostalgic outdoor activities with modern digital immersion. The narrative details a transition from physically active pastimes, such as marble games, fishing, and hiking, to the contemporary reliance on tablets and gaming consoles.
By documenting personal anecdotes of fruit picking and communal play, the author highlights the diminishing connection between the current generation and the natural environment. The article provides a critical reflection on parental intervention intended to reconnect children with the physical world by intentionally limiting digital access.
This perspective is distinct for its focus on the specific regional traditions of a Caribbean upbringing and the universal challenge of balancing technology with traditional play.
Key Takeaways
- The July and August school holidays historically represented a period of total freedom from academic and domestic routines.
- Traditional Caribbean childhood activities focused on outdoor exploration including river hiking, fruit harvesting and competitive physical games.
- Modern summertime experiences are increasingly defined by digital consumption via streaming platforms and high-definition video game consoles.
- Active parental intervention through the restriction of electronic devices can effectively encourage children to engage with their physical surroundings.
- The loss of traditional play skills such as tree climbing signifies a broader cultural shift in youth development and leisure.
Summertime: From marbles to PlayStation
By Marc Algernon. Summertime.
I remember summertime.
July and August were all mine.
Two entire months of no school.
No more teachers, no more rules.
No more pre-dawn showers.
Now I can stay in bed extra hours.
My days were spent with marble pitch.
Catching fish in a dirty ditch.
Fence jumping, mango pelting.
It’s not trespassing when we’re all laughing.
Mr Jones would shout and shake his fist.
When we reach home we would get some licks.
My river limes were crayfish catching and long hiking treks.
Now it’s Black Label Rum and geera neck.
Our kids’ summertime is pre-set… you can cure the bore with a tablet
No more selected shows on the TV.
You can simply YouTube anything you want to see.
No more barefoot football on hot pitch.
Now FIFA 17 is the PlayStation switch.
I remember eating mango till my belly want to buss.
Now my son can’t even climb and my daughter don’t like mango… says it’s too much fuss.
Time for it to be different, time to cure all their ills.
I simply sat right back and just didn’t pay the bills.
Soon the Smart TV went dumb and just wouldn’t say a word.
My daughter said, “Daddy this is quite absurd.”
They walked to the front door, hands shielding their eyes.
And took a look at the real world for the first time.
July 2017 www.sweettntmagazine.com
Every month in 2026 we will be giving away one Amazon eGift Card. To qualify subscribe to our newsletter.
When you buy something through our retail links, we may earn commission and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Recent Articles
- Why car owners are disconnecting their vehicles from the internet
- Tabanca: The heartache that defines Trinidad and Tobago
- Tourbillon: The complete guide to horology’s most captivating complication
- Luxury hotels, resorts, Airbnbs in Trinidad and Tobago
- Karl Hudson-Phillips: The Trinidad and Tobago jurist who helped shape international criminal justice
@sweettntmagazine
Discover more from Sweet TnT Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
You must be logged in to post a comment.