Not all American children get regular doses of fresh air. A 2012 report published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that only about half of U.S. preschoolers are taken outside to walk or play daily. And older kids aren’t faring much better, say experts.
Too much time inside contributes to obesity, attention problems, hyperactivity and lack of appreciation for the earth’s resources. By taking kids outside regularly to explore nature, you can help them get physical activity and connect to the world.
From building bird feeders to camping, discover together what makes the outdoors great. Project Learning Tree, a nonprofit environmental education program, has great tips for family activities on its website to get you started. Visit www.plt.org/outdoors for ideas. (StatePoint)
Report a correction
In order to make comments, you must verify your account.
In order to comment on SunJournal.com, you must use your real name and include the town in which you live in your profile. A member of our staff will call you to verify this information. To join in, fill out your user profile completely and check the box "please verify my status." We'll get back to you within one business day to verify your account.
Login or create an account here.
Our policy prohibits comments that are:
- Defamatory, abusive, obscene, racist, or otherwise hateful
- Excessively foul and/or vulgar
- Inappropriately sexual
- Baseless personal attacks or otherwise threatening
- Contain illegal material, or material that infringes on the rights of others
- Commercial postings attempting to sell a product/item
If you violate this policy, your comment will be removed and your account may be banned.