Importance of Physical Activity in Children

Adapted from North Carolina Extension & Community Association: Making Family Connections

~~Outdoors

The NC Outdoor Learning Environments Alliance (NC OLE Alliance) is a

group of concerned family and child agency representatives working together to encourage families to “PLAY OUTSIDE!”

What we know . . . What we know . . .

We have always believed that it is healthy We have always believed that it is healthy for children to play outdoors. for children to play outdoors.

An increasing body of research indicates An increasing body of research indicates HOW important outdoor play really is!HOW important outdoor play really is!

Myth or Fact?Myth or Fact?

Being outdoors cannot affect the obesity Being outdoors cannot affect the obesity problem.problem.

Pediatricians recommend no TV for children under age 2

The outdoors can help your relationship with your child

TV has led to some poor results for children and families

It is important for. . . It is important for. . .

HealthHealth FitnessFitness Attention/FocusAttention/Focus Emotional/Social Emotional/Social

developmentdevelopment Social skillsSocial skills

Language Language developmentdevelopment

Nature/science Nature/science knowledgeknowledge

Complexity of playComplexity of play Problem-solving Problem-solving

skillsskills

and much more!and much more!

Why aren’t children going outside?Why aren’t children going outside? Safety concernsSafety concerns

CrimeCrime TrafficTraffic Rules, regulations, sanitationRules, regulations, sanitation Air quality – ozone daysAir quality – ozone days Sun safetySun safety

Current conditionsCurrent conditions Lack of high quality outdoor environmentsLack of high quality outdoor environments Over-emphasis on academicsOver-emphasis on academics

What do you think ? Write 3 other factors.What do you think ? Write 3 other factors.

What are the What are the consequences?consequences? Decline in Decline in physical physical

fitnessfitness Rising childhood Rising childhood

obesity rates,obesity rates, juvenile juvenile diabetesdiabetes

Increase in Increase in attention attention issuesissues

More allergies, More allergies, asthma, asthma, respiratory respiratory illnessillness

Children not learning Children not learning to care for/appreciate to care for/appreciate thethe environment environment

Obesity is a concern for adults and Obesity is a concern for adults and childrenchildren

Obesity is a critical health Obesity is a critical health problem that has increased to problem that has increased to serious effects on long term serious effects on long term health.health.

Obesity is a concern for adults and Obesity is a concern for adults and childrenchildren

Obesity is a critical health Obesity is a critical health problem that has increased to problem that has increased to serious effects on long term serious effects on long term health.health.

19961991

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1991, 1996, 2004

(*BMI 30, or about 30 lbs overweight for 5’4” person)

No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%

2004

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1991, 1996, 2004

So what?!So what?!

Obese children lead to obese adultsObese children lead to obese adults Sedentary activitiesSedentary activities The strongest predictor of physical activity The strongest predictor of physical activity

among children is time spent outdoors.among children is time spent outdoors.

Children need 1 hour per Children need 1 hour per day of vigorous activity.day of vigorous activity. (U.S. (U.S. Surgeon General)Surgeon General)

But…More than half of parents (54%) said that they had little or no time to spend engaged in physical activity with their children, but wish they had more time.

How much time is spent How much time is spent doing physical activity in doing physical activity in elementary schools?elementary schools?

Recess is often just 15 minutes or less.Recess is often just 15 minutes or less. Physical education programs struggle in Physical education programs struggle in

hard economic times to find financial hard economic times to find financial support.support.

Physical education participation declines Physical education participation declines as children enter upper grades.as children enter upper grades.

Research tells us . . . .Research tells us . . . .

Children who are Children who are exposed to natural exposed to natural environments attend environments attend better for longer better for longer periods of time.periods of time.

Exposure to nature Exposure to nature and natural settings and natural settings improves attention improves attention span.span.

Another consequence…Another consequence…

Attention and behavior problems Attention and behavior problems are being increasingly reported are being increasingly reported by teachers and parents.by teachers and parents.

Research tells us . . . .Research tells us . . . . Exposure to nature Exposure to nature

and natural settings and natural settings decreases decreases impulsivity in impulsivity in children.children.

Exposure to nature Exposure to nature and natural settings and natural settings decreases decreases challenging challenging behaviors in young behaviors in young children.children.

Research tells us . . . .Research tells us . . . .

The outdoors The outdoors facilitates facilitates children's ability children's ability to expand their to expand their sense of wonder sense of wonder and connection and connection to nature.to nature.

Outdoor play is Great to Outdoor play is Great to create family connectionscreate family connections

Questions???Questions??? Though these are great points that show we Though these are great points that show we

need to increase physical activity for need to increase physical activity for children.children.

We need to see specifics to support We need to see specifics to support

“ “ Research tells us.”Research tells us.” Review information in this study by Review information in this study by

partnering with a fellow student. You will be partnering with a fellow student. You will be assigned a topic to review: assigned a topic to review: http://www.colorado.edu/journals/cye/13_2/Malone_Tranter/ChildrensEnvLearning.htm