This story from the BBC (No Outdoor Play Hurts Children) reports a worrying trend wherein parental anxiety coupled with increasingly popular sedentary activities, such as watching TV and playing computer games, are adversely affecting children’s health.
Play England is a project that has been established to promote play activities, to raise awareness of the importance of play and the provision of suitable play facilities and strategies. The fact that this project exists is indicative of how important this issue has become.
Outdoor play activities can make a significant contribution to a childs development. Children will begin to climb even before they can walk. Providing infants with safe outdoor play equipment which encourages them to climb and to discover their own physical capabilities aids the development of their psycho-motor and cognitive skills. When toddlers begin to walk they benefit from opportunities to develop their walking skills through balancing. Ladders, climbing frames, treehouses and other forms of outdoor play equipment can help them to develop their physical confidence.
As toddlers grow they need to encounter increasingly demanding challenges which will stretch their capabilities and help them to develop their physical skills. Slides, swings, ladders, trampolines and other garden and park play equipment can make a powerful contribution towards this development. Variety is crucial in ensuring that a child does not become bored by a challenge which is either too easy or too hard.
When children are very young they will need fairly close supervision from an adult. But as a child grows this requirement quickly diminishes and it becomes increasingly important that children are given the freedom to explore their capabilities in relation to the physical world around them. It is also important that they get the opportunity to interact with other youngsters of the same age. Appropriate outdoor play facilities can provide an ideal environment for children to learn through exploration and discovery and for them to share their experiences. It is up to the parent or guardian to facilitate their creative play by providing a safe environment for them to play in along with adequately stimulating and challenging props and outdoor play equipment.
[...] all the details here [...]
I definitely agree that this has become an epidemic. In the US, kids just don’t stay active like they used to. It is sad to see young kids starting to develop diseases and health issues that used to be only found in obese adults.
Totally agree with you post. Active kids not always like they used to be for the past several years ago. Nowadays kids affecting obesity too much.
The huge amount of video games and gaming consoles is I think one of the reasons why kids are becoming less healthy. I think parents can do a lot to keep their children healthy by keeping them away from too much video games.
Every kid should play outdoors
Cool site!
I don’t believe that watching tv could hurt a child’s health. However, I do believe that it prevents other activities. If the child is active then there is no problem from him/her watching tv.
Mainly what we need to realize, too, is that the reason why kids are inactive is due to a lack of effort on the parts of parents and other adults. As was pointed out in this article, kids need to have challenging (but not too challenging) activities to participate in and structures, toys, etc., to interact with. Obviously pre-toddlers and the such aren’t going to erect their own swingsets and play equipment are take themselves to play on them. It is the responsibility of parents and members of the community to ensure that children have these tools to use and the opportunities to use them.
I totally agree too. My son is 4 and his friends are being bought nintendos at that age!! Video games for teenagers maybe but youngers (and teens!) should be playing outside. We are turning to an obese nation.
This sounds real fun
thanks for sharing
it is a shame that the less children are playing outside these days than when I was a child — it seems like that was all I did!
I agree with your post. Children nowadays tend to stay at home at watched tv or play video game. It prevents useful activities and gaining friends. One probably cause of obesity is where kids staying at home only no outdoor activities, they will also be aloof to other people. Parents should notice this kind of problem. They should balance the routine of playing for kids outdoor or indoor.
These are the first steps to the “lab tube children”, they will be weaker and weaker as generations past…
watching TV can change your lifestyle which is relevant to your health.
This is a great idea. Children just aren’t as active as they once were.
I definitely agree that this has become an epidemic. In the US, kids just don’t stay active like they used to. It is sad to see young kids starting to develop diseases and health issues that used to be only found in obese adults.
Everything in moderation, I think TV is okay, as long as it isn’t for hours on end. Part of the problem is the parents need to limit their TV as well or their children are just going to imitate them.
I think it is very important for young children to play and be active with other children. It improves their social skills and active children tend to have less problems then kids that sit around and watch TV all day.
To prevent my child from getting obese i cook my children healthy home cooked meals and limit the time they spend in front of the tv they don’t have any playstations or other electronic games. They play outside ride their bikes and rollerblade we have a big enough backyard. We also walk to school every day 10 minute walk even when it is raining.
TV should not be allowed to take up play time. Unfortunately it is very addictive.
plain outdoor for children is one big help for their development. not only on the physical aspect also to their capability to mingle to other people and a first step on their exploration…
mothers and fathers should be very careful when choosing toys for children. Chinese goods toys can cause cancer.
As a toddler or a kid we also need to give them a chance to explore new things from themselves..
I also think that outdoor play is essential as it encourage exercise which promote good health. Let them play a little bit of physical outdoor games as these can also boost their resistance to outdoor elements.
thanks admin
I must admit i agree 100% with you. If a child it sat in front of the TV to entertain themselves there not using the energy that they have so when it comes to bed time there too hyper. Obesity in children is not something that i have thought about before but the amount of junk we eat and that we feed our children is unbelievable, microwaveable meals, take aways… they all add up. When i was a child i couldn’t wait to go out on my bike with my friends but now all kids want to do is play on the games console.
There is a big problem with the youngsters of today living sedentary lifestyles. And it’s not going to get any better either with the way things are going. Video games especially are becoming more and more popular and kids just get addicted to them.
Youngsters are living far less active lifestyles and in my opinion it’s not likely to change. Especially with all the new video games that kids get addicted too and stay in playing them all the time. Video games should be better regulated.
Hey, I watched a lot of tv when I was growing up and I dont think my health was damaged. In saying that, I also played a lot of sports so I wasnt inside 24/7…Like the previous comment, I think being active outside is the key.
kids need to learn to get outside
Hey, great theme!
From my point of view outdoor games are the only way to be healthy for children. It gives a physical power to kids which they can’t get through TV and other things.
My kids love to be outside even when its raining which im not so keen on. But they are very active children. But its true not enough children are active now and they would prefer to sit in front of the TV, but if you limit their TV time from the start it may help.
I was raised on a farm with no neighbors for almost a mile. Had some of my best memories still to this day about playing outdoors.
We didn’t have anything else to do, and you didn’t want to stay in the house all day with your parents.
Now days, I spend more time taking a shower everyday, than most kids spend outdoors playing.
Seems you almost have to throw your kids outside to play now days, that is unless the ice cream truck is coming down the street.
I have 4 kids, 3 of them are 10 or above but my youngest is still only 5…Im definitely finding it harder to get this one outside than the others in the past…
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