The impact of Technology on the health of children

Recent generations of children have far less exercise than they did just fifteen years ago. Remember when you couldn't wait for school to finish to play cops and robbers, tag or hop-scotch? Nowadays, children are staying indoors on their Playstation, Xbox, tablet or mobile phone. Is technology turning our children into obese, unhealthy kids?

There is no doubt that technoloy provides children with more learning tools and access to information but providing your child with educational support via other means (or in a more controlled fashion) may be a more beneficial approach to enhancing your child's development.

Children also now rely heavily on technology for the majority of their playtime which limits creativity and imagination. By being engrossed in technology, children lack movement, touch, human connection and exposure to nature. This not only impacts their health but also their learning ability, due to fatigue, and the ability to interact with other children and build important social skills.

Childhood Obesity Facts

• The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period.
• Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
• Obese adolescents are more likely to have prediabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels indicate a high risk for development of diabetes.
• Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems and low self-esteem.
• Obesity in children can potentially lead to adult health concerns such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.

Accrding to the CDC, children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity each day. This includes cardio (running, bicycle riding, martial arts), muscle strengthening (rope or tree climbing, swinging on playground equipment) and bone strengthening exercises (jumprope or hop-scotch).

Many activities cover all the bases at once but you may need to get creative to find activities your child enjoys. Here are a few options to help your kids get the physical exercise they need.

1. Pry/coax your child away from his or her favourite device.
2. Have your child bike to and from school if the school is nearby.
3. Organised or team sports such as soccer, tennis and basketball are a great way to stay fit and build frienships.
4. Take a nature hike to collect leaves and rocks for an art project.
5. If your child likes to climb, consider going to the jungle gym. Ensure you keep an eye on your child should they slip.
6. If your child likes to read, try walking to a local library instead of driving.
7. Turn on your child's favorite music and dance in the living room. They won't even realise they are exercising!
8. Check that your child's school supports you in the fight against childhood obesity by ensuring kids play outdoors during recess or participate in gym classes.