Kindy Ecobaby
  • Home
    • Mummy's Mini Starter Pack
    • 3 X Bamboo Modern Cloth Nappy Liners - 300 sheets
    • 3 X Bamboo Modern Cloth Nappy Liners - 300 sheets 18cm
    • 6 X Bamboo Modern Cloth Nappy Liners - 600 sheets
    • 6 X Bamboo Modern Cloth Nappy Liners 600 sheets 18cm
    • Bamboo Breast Pads
    • Bamboo Wet Wipes
    • Bamboo Wet Wipes 6pack
    • Nappy Inserts Charcoal Bamboo Pack of 5, 10 & 20
    • Nappy Inserts Slim Cream Bamboo Pack of 5, 10 & 20
    • Eco Nappies: Disposable
    • Pack of Four Babyland Unisex Cloth Nappies!!
    • Minky Modern Cloth Nappy - Bamboo lined velcro!!
    • Very Cool Wet Bag/Library Bag Great Designs!!
    • Kindy Sheet Bags in Eight Great Designs: Waterproof Too!!
    • Baby Shower Gift Pack!
    • Eco Baby Shop Testimonials
    • E-BayShop
    • Invite a Friend and Get $20 Off!
    • Become a Stockist
  • Baby News
  • Blog
    • Royal Baby George
    • Serious News
  • Contact
  • Directory
    • Online Shops
    • Brisbane Directory >
      • Acupuncture, Massage + Holistic Therapists
      • Babysitters+In-Home Childcare
      • Baby and Kids Toy Stores
      • Chemists
      • Children's Classes
      • Creative Programmes
      • Dentists
      • Dentists + Doctors
      • Equipment/Toy Hire
      • Just For You
      • Kids Entertainers
      • Kindergartens >
        • Auchenflower
        • Ashgrove
        • Brookfield
        • Bardon
        • Chapel Hill
        • Chelmer
        • Fig Tree Pocket
        • Graceville
        • Highgate Hill
        • Indooroopilly
        • Rosalie
        • Oxley
        • Paddington
        • St Lucia
        • Toowong
        • Victoria Point
        • West End
      • Maternity Clothes
      • Medical Specialists
      • Museums, Amusement Parks + Other Attractions
      • PartyPlanning+Supplies
      • Photographers
      • Pharmacies
      • Sports + Outdoors
      • Tutoring + Education Services
    • Sydney Directory >
      • Babysitters+In-Home Childcare
      • Baby + Kids Clothes and Accessories
      • PartyPlanners+Supplies
      • Pharmacies
      • Sports + Outdoors
      • Photographers
      • Tutoring + Education Services
    • Perth Directory >
      • Kids Entertainers
    • Playgroups >
      • Brisbane Groups
  • Mums&Dads
    • Forum
    • Child Care >
      • ConversationStarters
      • Kids Health
      • Kids Gym
      • Babysitting
    • Advice for Parents >
      • Learn >
        • Fit Brains!
        • Creativity
      • ReadyforKindy
      • Swimming Tips >
        • Sue's Swimming Tips >
          • Goggles or Not?
          • Swimming on the Edge
      • Growing Feet
    • Recipes >
      • Sweet Treats for Kids >
        • Rasberry Brownies
        • Cupid's Cupcakes
        • Cutie Cupcake
  • Grandparents
  • Kids
    • Free Fun
    • Games >
      • FishSmartyFun
    • Fashion
    • Art >
      • ArtBlog
    • Pets
  • Features
    • SuperMum
    • Losing Stuff
    • Tykes on Bikes
    • Free Swimming
    • Baby Understands Me!
    • Tame Kids’ Clutter
    • Babies make friends
    • Kids on a Plane
    • Parties
  • Games
  • Pack of Four Unisex Cloth Nappies!!

Green Time Being Replaced by Screen Time

10/8/2012

1 Comment

 
Picture
Australia may be famous for its sweeping plains and jewel seas but studies are finding that fewer kids are experiencing them because they’re playing inside. In fact, recent research has found that only one in three Aussie kids play outside on a daily basis.

In an ideal world, kids would spend at least an hour a day in outdoor, unstructured play. But the growing body of research from around the world shows that green time for kids is fast being replaced by screen time.

And organisations and experts in child development are calling on parents to ensure their kids have daily access to the outdoors, for the sake of their development.

Damning evidenceA 2009 Australian study of 10- to 12-year-old children found that 37 percent spent just 30 minutes or less being active outside on a typical day. This same study found that 43 percent of these kids spent more than two hours a day watching TV, videos or playing computer games. 

Another study, Climbing Trees: Getting Aussie Kids Back Outdoors, commissioned by Planet Ark in 2011, has also revealed the extent to which child’s play has changed. Less than 20 percent of parents interviewed said their kids had climbed a tree and only 29 percent thought their kids had ever played jump rope, hopscotch or street games. 

A recent US study has shown that this growing indoor culture is a western phenomenon. It found that more than half of preschool-aged kids do not venture outside to play on a daily basis, and that girls are 16 percent less likely to head into the fresh air than boys.

A conscious effort is neededNature Play WA is an organisation established with the prime task of getting kids and their parents back into the great outdoors. It is in the process of distributing 40,000 special 'passports' to encourage children to play outside.

The passport lists 15 things kids should do before they turn 12, many of which are activities that their parents did as kids without even a second thought – like climbing a tree, catching a wave, playing in the rain, making a mudpie and learning to ride a bike.

Nature Play’s latest initiative is a 'green time' chart, which families can download and then mount on their fridge. The object of this is for kids to fill in how much time they spend outdoors each day and if there are more 'green time' stickers than 'screen time' stickers at the end of a fortnight, the family rewards itself with a special outdoor activity.

Nature Play CEO Griffin Longley can cite a whole lot of reasons why it’s vital for kids to connect with nature and the outdoors generally.

“It’s not just about exercise," he says. "It’s also been shown over and over again in research that when kids engage in unstructured play outside it fires up their imaginations and is essential for emotional and cognitive development. The bottom line is that kids need to be able to play outside to be healthy in all ways.”

In your own backyardWhile taking kids to fun and free outdoor venues like the park or beach are simple ways to ensure kids get their green time, Griffin says backyards, even small ones, can provide lots of fun for littlies. 

“We understand it can be difficult for busy parents to be able to take kids out to the park every day, so it’s also good to have a safe and accessible outdoor space, like a backyard, for kids to play in,” he says.

“They can take a lot of their indoor play stuff outside. Even the play girls often engage in – like playing with dolls, or playing 'house' – can be easily moved outdoors. If kids are drawing inside, why not take all they’re drawing outside?

“And outdoors they can really use their imagination, using nature as props.”

Four great outdoor activities1. Invest in some wheelsWhether it’s a ride-on toy for littlies, a trick scooter, a skateboard or a bike, there’s nothing more exciting – and possibly daring – for kids than a set of wheels. 

2. Take a hikePick an age-appropriate walk – it can be just down to the shops with the littlies or a short bush walk with preschoolers – pack some water and snacks and go for a walk. 

3. Set up a treasure hunt or activity stationsIt can take a little pre-organisation but both of these activities can be set up in your backyard. Set goals like 'find a yellow flower' or 'collect three pebbles', or 'run to the purple towel and do three star jumps'.

4. Plant a veggie gardenKids love digging around in the dirt and playing with water. Then there is the added bonus of them caring and nurturing for those plants before reaping the gastronomic benefits. Kids are much more likely to eat veg they grew themselves.

Research has found the vast benefits of playing outside, including:

  • * the risk of being overweight is much less when more nature is present in the neighbourhood 
  • * playing in natural environments helps build children’s motor skills
  • * nature enhances children’s learning and development
  • * nature exposure, especially during middle childhood, can play an important role in their mental health 
  • * children manage stress better when they have more contact with nature
  • * time in nature assists the performance of children with ADHD.

Return to Homepage

1 Comment
cartier replica link
4/28/2014 06:16:36 pm

Many individuals are usually as a result volunteering important info to be able to pharmacists and also acquiring blood sugar displays almost all cost-free.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2017
    March 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    Author

    _ KindyNews is a fun and interesting news publication for parents of kids aged seven and under. It is also the place to go for all your eco friendly baby product needs!

    Categories

    All
    Breaking News
    Childcare
    Child Health
    Children
    Christie
    Christies Columns
    Education
    Health
    How To
    Issues
    Jumping Castles
    Kids
    Kj
    Mums
    Opinion Content
    Parenting
    Parenting Advice
    Parents
    Parties
    Pets
    Pinky
    Pinky's Columns
    Play
    Serious News
    Social Media
    Sue's Columns
    Technology

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.