We've all heard about the importance of kids spending more time outside and less time playing video games and watching tv. In case you aren't convinced, below are MORE reasons why your children should be outside playing and not indoors watching TV...
• According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children watch 3 hours of television a day and spend a total of 5 ½ hours on all combined media daily, engaging in more sedentary activities and playing outdoors less.
• The United States Department Of Agriculture released exercise guidelines that state all children ages two years and older should get a minimum of 1 hour of moderate to vigorous exercise daily. Ideally toddlers should receive ½ hour of exercise a day, pre-schoolers should receive 2 hours and school-aged children 1 hour.
• According to the Institute of Medicine, the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled for pre-school aged children aged 2 - 5 years and has more than tripled for children ages 6 – 11. Presently, 9 million children over age 6 are considered obese.
• The Surgeon General reports that approximately 15% of American children are overweight, a significant increase from only 40 years ago when approximately 4% of American children ages 6 – 11 years were overweight. In the same report, the Surgeon General warns that overweight children are more likely to become overweight and obese adults and that is important to take action now.
Stay Fit. Play Hard. Buy Your Kids A Manfred Mantis Playset.
- Tracey
