Flat and Fat

My nephew was 11 and living in a suburb of Chicago when he first visited with us at our cabin in Western Maryland. I told him in advance that the cabin was a “TV-free zone.” A few days into the visit, Ben announced to me that “I was probably the only house in Maryland that didn’t have a TV.” I reminded him that I had given him the heads up. “Oh that’s OK, Aunt Jenn. Who needs TV when you have the wilderness?”

Unfortunately Ben’s experience – and attitude – is not the norm. Today too many kids are spending more time than ever inside in front of flat screens. The Kaiser Family Foundation just released a report Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year Olds that shows every type of media use has increased over the past 10 years, except (and sadly for this book lover) reading.

Kids are now clocking 7.5 hours per day “consuming media” -- these rates are even higher for Blacks and Hispanics. That’s almost as much time, the report notes, as adults spend at work. When taking into account multi-tasking media use, it really adds up to nearly 11 hours a day.

And here’s the kicker: the report also shows that the youth who spend more time with media say they have lower grades and lower levels of personal contentment.

The irony shouldn’t be lost on anyone that in the same week, federal health officials reported that one out of every five U.S. teenagers has cholesterol level that increases the risk of heart disease. At least one-third of youth are overweight or obese and that means soaring rates of Type 2 diabetes and other physical ailments that could easily make this generation the most unhealthy yet.

Michelle Obama’s work on childhood obesity is welcomed and the effort should include an emphasis on outdoor time. Kids need time outside, in unstructured play, for their mental, physical and social well-being. Check out some of these resources that can help kids (and you!) get a daily green hour that will keep them healthier and happier.

Jonah Lehrer, writing in the Boston Globe shares some interesting studies on how nature –even a glimpse—can help us focus. It’s referred to as “attention restoration theory” and nature is the single biggest ingredient; and very beneficial to our brains.

Studies show that kids with ADD focus better after spending time outdoors. All of us will focus better after spending time outdoors! So, while I appreciate your visit to this blog, I’d rather you get up and get outside.