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Day Care Centers Are Keeping Kids Inside
May 12, 2008 9:00 AM
by
findingDulcinea Staff
by Sarah Amandolare
Research shows that U.S. day care programs are not letting children play outside for surprising reasons, adding to concerns over childhood obesity and inactivity.
Research shows that U.S. day care programs are not letting children play outside for surprising reasons, adding to concerns over childhood obesity and inactivity.
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Researchers from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center found that children are kept indoors if they are wearing flip flops instead of sneakers, or are not wearing the appropriate clothing or coat for outdoor play.
Some parents intentionally send children to school without a coat so that the child will be kept inside, which can result in entire classes being forced to remain indoors all day.
To make matters worse, day care teachers often talk or text on cell phones during outdoor playtime, or feel they are too overweight to encourage children to be active outdoors.
Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder,” is a proponent of allowing children greater freedom to explore the outdoors, despite the risks.
“My kids didn’t run as freely as I did. I do think, though, that we have to be very intentional now about getting our kids outdoors,” he said in an interview with U.S. News & World Report.
Studies show that playing outside offers distinct benefits to children, including obesity prevention, greater focus, and enhanced imagination and sense of place. Disturbingly, the percentage of young girls who remain physically active through their teenage years is declining.
Some parents intentionally send children to school without a coat so that the child will be kept inside, which can result in entire classes being forced to remain indoors all day.
To make matters worse, day care teachers often talk or text on cell phones during outdoor playtime, or feel they are too overweight to encourage children to be active outdoors.
Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder,” is a proponent of allowing children greater freedom to explore the outdoors, despite the risks.
“My kids didn’t run as freely as I did. I do think, though, that we have to be very intentional now about getting our kids outdoors,” he said in an interview with U.S. News & World Report.
Studies show that playing outside offers distinct benefits to children, including obesity prevention, greater focus, and enhanced imagination and sense of place. Disturbingly, the percentage of young girls who remain physically active through their teenage years is declining.
Headline Links: Day care stuck inside
Children in American day care programs are staying inside for surprising reasons, reports The New York Times. Researchers from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center found that children are kept indoors if they are wearing flip flops instead of sneakers, or are not wearing the appropriate clothing for outdoor play. Sometimes, parents intentionally “keep the child’s coat so he or she will be kept indoors,” said the blog.
Source: Well – New York Times
According to Science Daily, the same Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center study found that instead of interacting with children during outdoor play, day care teachers are often “talking or texting on cell phones.” In some instances, “staff reported that their own issues with being overweight prevented them from encouraging children’s physical activity,” reports Science Daily.
Source: Science Daily
U.S. News interviewed Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder,” who feels that children are not being allowed enough freedom to explore nature. “It’s going to be different than when we were kids, and we’ll have to do much of it together with them,” he said.
Source: U.S. News & World Report
An article in The Oregonian reports that two local mothers are making a documentary that explores the reasons why fewer children are playing outside. The broader question posed by the film is “who will look after the Earth if our kids are disconnected from the natural world?” said Hessen Schei, one of the filmmakers.
Source: The Oregonian
Related Links: Inactivity epidemic and the benefits of nature
An article by Louv and Howard Frumkin, the Director of the National Center for Environmental Health, cited evidence suggesting that “people benefit so much from contact with nature that land conservation can now be viewed as a public health strategy.” Contact can be “small scale,” such as office plants or trees near apartment buildings,” said the article.
Source: Children & Nature Network (Land Trust Alliance)
Although young girls are participating in organized sports in record numbers, the percent that remain physically active through their teenage years is declining. A sedentary lifestyle is one factor in obesity, a condition that can lead to heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other problems.
Source: findingDulcinea
Background Links: Nature Deficit Disorder
In a 2005 interview with NPR, author Richard Louv blamed adults for telling children that electronics are the future, and scaring children away from nature with a “boogieman is in the woods” mentality. In addition, society has been “telling kids unconsciously that nature is in the past, [that] it really doesn’t count any more,” Louv said.
Source: NPR
After his book was released in 2005, Salon also interviewed Louv, who explained the concept of nature deficit disorder: “It’s the cumulative effect of withdrawing nature from children’s experiences, but not just individual children. Families too can show the symptoms.” Increased stress, difficulty paying attention, and feeling ungrounded are symptoms of the disorder, said Louv.
Source: Salon
An article in Orion Magazine written by Louv said the risks and parental fears associated with letting children play outside are real, but there are also risks involved with penning children up inside, including “threats to independent judgment and value of place … to their sense of stewardship for the Earth."
Source: Orion Magazine
Reference: ‘Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder’ by Richard Louv
Richard Louv’s book, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder,” is available for purchase from the Dulcinea Media Store.
Source: Dulcinea Media Store
© 2008 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
