A recent study states a startling statistic; teens spend approximately 7.5 hours per day in front of a screen, i.e., television viewing, internet, etc. As one attempts to wrap their mind around America's declining personal health with issues of childhood obesity, early onset of diabetes and cardio-vascular problems, we need to look a life-style changes, which have negatively impacted the equation.
In general, children no longer engage in 'outside free-play' activties. Perhaps the comfort of the home environment or parents' fear for the child's safety keeps the youngster indoors and embracing a more sedentary life style. A second factor lending itself to less physically fit children is the current indifference towards physical education in the public school curriculum. When I began teaching/coaching in 1962, the schools embraced a daily physical education regiment that included calisthenics, running and periodic fitness testing. In short, the kids sweat every day, got their heart rates up to improve cardio fitness and the evidence was wet shower room floors. Over the years, parents yielded to spoiled children's pleas to be excussed from such 'abuse' and the school powers buckled to parental pressures. Shower rooms are often used today for storage areas.
As a parent and grandparent, I too wish for a better life for my children and grandchildren. However, I make a distinction between 'better' and 'easier.' Like many things in life's journey, the pendulum will one swing day back to a more hard core approach to physical conditioning of children; until that time arrives the cost may be high.
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