March 26th

By Mutt Mulligan

Report: children’s screen time replaces outdoor play

A new report by the Association of Play Industries (API) indicates that children are less active now than ever before. The culprit? Screens.

The report indicates that children’s discretionary screen time has risen by over 50% in less than a decade. In fact, the average child using screen devices will spend 76, 24-hour days per year on screens. Screen time not only makes kids less active, it also increases their changes for becoming nearsighted, overweight or obese.

TurfMutt’s favorite activity – spending time outside – is one way to offset the effects of screen time. In fact, children are 2-3 times more physically active when they’re outdoors than when they’re indoors. Some research has found that unstructured free play time can burn more calories for kids than sports and school programs combined.

Outdoor play is also associated with better social skills in preschool children. After all, family yards and playgrounds are where children learn about life! TurfMutt knows the value of getting outside and enjoying the green spaces around us. (Check out this infographic for a snapshot of the health and well-being benefits of nature, or click here for even more scientific evidence that “green” is good for us.)

What will you do to get outside with your kids today? The good news is you don’t have to go far – nature starts in your own backyard!