--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Growing up, it was about finding a way to…" description: "\"Growing up, it was about finding a way to entertain myself outdoors. We spent all the summers on the beach, camping with my family a bunch, and traveli..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/stephen-colletti-24549_about_growing-up-it-was-about-finding-a-way-to_1822364.jpg" --- # Growing up, it was about finding a way to entertain myself… ![“Growing up, it was about finding a way to entertain myself outdoors. We spent all the summers on the beach, camping with my family a bunch, and traveling as much as we could. My parents wouldn't let me watch too much TV growing up or play video games, or anything like that.” quote by Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/stephen-colletti-24549_about_growing-up-it-was-about-finding-a-way-to_1822364.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/stephen-colletti-24549_about_growing-up-it-was-about-finding-a-way-to_1822364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bda/stephen-colletti-24549_about_growing-up-it-was-about-finding-a-way-to_1822364.jpg) > “Growing up, it was about finding a way to entertain myself outdoors. We spent all the summers on the beach, camping with my family a bunch, and traveling as much as we could. My parents wouldn't let me watch too much TV growing up or play video games, or anything like that.” [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Childhood freedom and limited screen time fostered outdoor play, family bonding, and creativity. **In simple terms:** Limited TV and games encouraged outdoor fun and imagination. Key Takeaway Encourage active, screen‑free experiences for kids. Themes childhood play creativity family outdoors Mood nostalgic inspirational Type storytelling reflective When to use this quote - summer camps - family trips - nature hikes - creative projects Key Concepts imagination social bonding physical health Questions to Reflect On - What outdoor activities can you revive? - How does limited screen time affect development? A Different Perspective Too much structure can stifle spontaneity and self‑discovery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Anything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything/) [Beach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beach/) [Bunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bunch/) [Camping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camping/) [Camping Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camping-family-2204946/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Entertain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertain/) [Entertain Outdoors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertain-outdoors-2204945/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Finding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Outdoors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outdoors/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Parents Wouldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-wouldn-248658/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Spent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spent/) [Spent Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spent-summers-276312/) [Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer/) [Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summers/) [Too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Traveling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traveling/) [Tv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Video](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video/) [Video games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/video-games/) [Watch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watch/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up outside of Boston in a town called Manchester by the Sea, and we spent our summers in Nantucket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-faxon/i-grew-up-outside-of-boston-in-a-town-called-manchester-by-the-sea/) [Nat Faxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-faxon/) > [I spent two summers managing the Midland Angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-maddon/i-spent-two-summers-managing-the-midland-angels/) [Joe Maddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-maddon/) > [Having spent many summers in Southampton as a New Yorker, and as someone whose family has a place in Newport, I have a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinsley-mortimer/having-spent-many-summers-in-southampton-as-a-new-yorker-and-as/) [Tinsley Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinsley-mortimer/) > [I spent my summers in a war zone because my parents were afraid that if we didn't go back to Palestine every single summer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/i-spent-my-summers-in-a-war-zone-because-my-parents-were-afraid-that/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [Peter de Jonge and I have both spent summers in the Hamptons. We know a lot about the area and I hope it shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/peter-de-jonge-and-i-have-both-spent-summers-in-the-hamptons-we-know/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I didn't start traveling abroad until I was 17, but I spent many summers on the beaches of Donegal in Ireland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitriona-balfe/i-didn-t-start-traveling-abroad-until-i-was-17-but-i-spent-many/) [Caitriona Balfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitriona-balfe/) > [I love the ocean; growing up around Laguna Beach, I spent my summers surfing, diving, and snorkeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-macgillivray/i-love-the-ocean-growing-up-around-laguna-beach-i-spent-my-summers/) [Greg MacGillivray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-macgillivray/) > [I spent my summers in Connecticut scooping ice cream and babysitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-gummer/i-spent-my-summers-in-connecticut-scooping-ice-cream-and-babysitting/) [Grace Gummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-gummer/) > [When you say, 'I spent my summers at the Jersey Shore,' people always say, 'Oh, really?' 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It was the first time I'd ever heard her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/i-was-talking-to-my-mom-the-other-day-and-she-called-me-a-weirdo-it/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [My costar James Lafferty, and his little brother Stuart Lafferty, and another buddy of ours, Ian Shive, are working on this project called 'Generation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/my-costar-james-lafferty-and-his-little-brother-stuart-lafferty-and/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [My parents wouldn't let me listen to 'American Idiot.' So it felt very rebellious to go over to my friend's house after school and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/my-parents-wouldn-t-let-me-listen-to-american-idiot-so-it-felt-very/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [When I was 17 or 18 I wanted to become a wine expert, and my parents wouldn't let me drink. So I was devastated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/when-i-was-17-or-18-i-wanted-to-become-a-wine-expert-and-my-parents/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) ## More by Stephen Colletti > [I'm an adrenaline junkie. I love climbing crazy trees or cliffs, which doesn't make my mom very happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-m-an-adrenaline-junkie-i-love-climbing-crazy-trees-or-cliffs-which/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [I grew up in Orange County, without a team. I never affiliated myself with the Chargers, south of me, or the Raiders, north of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-grew-up-in-orange-county-without-a-team-i-never-affiliated-myself/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > ['One Tree Hill' gave me my first shot into acting, and they gave me the biggest chance, and that's something that I'll always respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/one-tree-hill-gave-me-my-first-shot-into-acting-and-they-gave-me-the/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [Acting was something I did growing up. I never it took it too seriously; it was just one of those things I got into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/acting-was-something-i-did-growing-up-i-never-it-took-it-too/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [I love the NBC comedies. I DVR 'Parks and Recreation,' 'Community,' 'The Office,' '30 Rock.' I love most of the HBO shows. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-love-the-nbc-comedies-i-dvr-parks-and-recreation-community-the/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [Things don't just fall into place because you have a dream. You're always going to have those negative thoughts. Our minds love to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/things-don-t-just-fall-into-place-because-you-have-a-dream-you-re/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [My costar James Lafferty, and his little brother Stuart Lafferty, and another buddy of ours, Ian Shive, are working on this project called 'Generation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/my-costar-james-lafferty-and-his-little-brother-stuart-lafferty-and/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [I've always been adventurous. In the summertime, my mom would lock me outside of the house and say, 'Do something, and come back later.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-ve-always-been-adventurous-in-the-summertime-my-mom-would-lock-me/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [Acting is fun, and if you enjoy doing it, you should take it seriously and see what you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/acting-is-fun-and-if-you-enjoy-doing-it-you-should-take-it-seriously/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [Working on 'Laguna' was great because just being in production and shooting stuff and having to go back and relive some things, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/working-on-laguna-was-great-because-just-being-in-production-and/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [If I wasn't acting, I would be trying to break into acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/if-i-wasn-t-acting-i-would-be-trying-to-break-into-acting/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [I love flying and kind of just fascinated with it, and to fly something like an F-22 would be a blast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-love-flying-and-kind-of-just-fascinated-with-it-and-to-fly/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > ['Top Gun' was one of my favorite movies growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/top-gun-was-one-of-my-favorite-movies-growing-up/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [I was a very spastic kid who loved to see how high he could climb a tree. That's just the way I've always been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-was-a-very-spastic-kid-who-loved-to-see-how-high-he-could-climb-a/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) > [I'm not in the business of trying to be a celebrity. I like entertaining and being in movies. I like when people leave a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colletti/i-m-not-in-the-business-of-trying-to-be-a-celebrity-i-like/) [Stephen Colletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) [Explore all 24 Stephen Colletti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colletti/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. 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As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. 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