Kids, Get Off Your Phone and Play Outside!
Did you know: Children who spend less time outdoors are more likely to develop Chronic Health Problems?
With technology advancing at an incredible rate, children spend more and more time on electronic devices indoors rather than playing outdoors.
Kids playing outdoors is crucial to a child’s health. Being outdoors encourages kids’ creativity, builds on their attention spans and increases their desire to explore. A 2002 study found that kids 8 years old could better identify pokemon characters than the plants and animals in their own neighborhoods. I’m sure that statistic has only increased since that study was published.
When children spend less time outdoors, it also increases their risk of developing chronic health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and depression. All of which are common companions of a stationary indoor lifestyle.
Parents, let’s encourage more outdoor play and less screen time!