Getting Kids Outdoors

By Virginia Prescott on Thursday, September 18, 2008.

A recent study found that children today spend an average of 6 hours each day in front of the computer and TV, but less than 4 minutes a day in unstructured outdoor play. Those findings have led researchers to identify a new condition: “nature deficit disorder.”

Spending all that time in front of screens instead of playing outside has been linked with obesity, loneliness, depression, attention problems and greater social isolation. A burgeoning group of parents, teachers and lawmakers is trying to get kids back into nature. KQED’s Gabriela Quiros brings us this story from San Francisco. Click here to listen.

The No Child Left Inside Act is scheduled for a vote this month in Congress. The legislation was voted out of the House Committee on Education and Labor in June.

Watch this video produced by the No Child Left Inside coalition:


(Photo by Lauren)

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