Kids 'favour technology over outdoor play activities'
14/06/2010 Modern technology means that children are spending too much time indoors and not enough time taking part in outdoor play activities.
Writing for the Portland Press Herald, Sheridan Steele explained that mobile phones and the internet have become the main way through which children communicate and this is having an adverse effect on their social skills.
Ms Steele said that it also means children are spending less time taking part in outdoor play activities.
"A growing body of research indicates that children who spend time in nature are better thinkers, more creative, can better deal with complex issues and have improved aptitudes for science and math," she explained.
Fears about the safety risks of allowing children to take part in outdoor play activities were also said to be part of this.
First lady Michelle Obama is currently fronting a campaign in the US to fight childhood obesity by encouraging kids to take part in more exercise and have a healthier diet.
A report by the White House Childhood Obesity Task Force released earlier this year suggested that outdoor play activities could decrease the number of overweight children.
Writing for the Portland Press Herald, Sheridan Steele explained that mobile phones and the internet have become the main way through which children communicate and this is having an adverse effect on their social skills.
Ms Steele said that it also means children are spending less time taking part in outdoor play activities.
"A growing body of research indicates that children who spend time in nature are better thinkers, more creative, can better deal with complex issues and have improved aptitudes for science and math," she explained.
Fears about the safety risks of allowing children to take part in outdoor play activities were also said to be part of this.
First lady Michelle Obama is currently fronting a campaign in the US to fight childhood obesity by encouraging kids to take part in more exercise and have a healthier diet.
A report by the White House Childhood Obesity Task Force released earlier this year suggested that outdoor play activities could decrease the number of overweight children.
