Trading Screen Time for Green Time

I pulled into a friend’s driveway vigilantly one recent Sunday, careful not to be run over by her two boys, ages 4 and 6, who were racing around the yard on little snowmobiles. It was quite a sight, really: two happy kids dressed helmet-to-boot in black, having the time of their lives.

Outside. That’s where a National Wildlife Federation group wants to see kids spending more time, after a recent study suggests rising health risks due to youngsters’ excessive time indoors in front of the screen. A 2010 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that kids spend nearly as much time a day in front of a screen as they do sleeping–just under eight hours on average. That prompted the NWF to reach out to the new Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin, to issue a call to action, promoting the health benefits of outdoor time for kids.

“Screen time has always been an issue,” says Ann Davis, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Kansas Medical Center. It’s especially a concern for this generation, not only because varieties of screen time activities abound–think hundreds of television channels, interactive video games, the push to snag the latest DVD–but also because so much of the world’s communication and information depend on a screen, be it computer, television or cell phone.

“Screen time is more than just a form of entertainment now,” Davis says.

Barbara Brand, Johnson County Library Youth Services manager, agrees. Activities such as video games and Internet surfing are popular even at the library, she says, where many kids spend unstructured time after school.

“Sometimes, if they're just looking for something to do, it's likely they'll jump on the computer and stay there for as long as they can,” Brand says. At the library, it’s usually a one-hour limit. Brand points out kids are still reading consistently, and that should be encouraging.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children get no more than two hours of screen time per day. The NWF cites studies that show kids spend an average of four minutes per day outside.

But it’s not always easy to keep kids away from the screen. Moreover, Davis notes that many parents don’t feel comfortable sending their kids outside, due to unsafe neighborhoods, risk of germs or the parent’s own lack of time or energy.

While Davis recommends parents spend time outdoors with their kids, it’s not necessary to have every outdoor activity strictly planned. Kids are masters at imagination.

“You don’t necessarily have to do anything that’s physically strenuous,” she adds.

Think about your own childhood memories of playing outside. I grew up on a snowmobile, thanks to my dad, who sells them. I also have fond memories of hiking, boating and playing in the willows as a kid. My mom used to throw birthday parties for me at the local skating rink.

Let your own memories inspire fun outdoor time for your family.

And prepare for the elements. Planning ahead for sunscreen, water and appropriate dress create a more enjoyable experience outside. And, Davis says, if it’s fun, kids are more likely to do it again.

It's not that kids should be prohibited from sitting in front of a screen. It's just that, like most things in life, moderation is key. And as the parent, you are the one to monitor it.

Ways to Discourage Excessive Screen Time

• Keep televisions and computers out of kids’ bedrooms. Kids with screens in their bedrooms are more likely to stay up late, be sleep deprived and become obese, Davis says.
• Set specific screen time goals, then monitor them. Make the limits clear to your kids, then stick to them so they know you’re serious.
• Model good screen time behavior. If a parent comes home and immediately turns on the television and watches it for the next four hours, kids will get the message that it’s okay. Set an example to show there is more to life than television and Internet.
• Limit the number of televisions and computers in your home. Fewer screens equal less temptation.
• Eat meals together, with the television off. Davis points to clear mental health benefits of uninterrupted meal times together, including more meaningful conversations.

Kate Meadows enjoys long walks with her boxer puppy when the sun stays out late. She is currently trying to convince her toddler son that walking is a good thing.