Leave No Child Inside

"All television is educational television. The question is: what is it teaching?" ~Nicholas Johnson

"I wish there were a knob on the TV to turn up the intelligence. There's a knob called 'brightness,' but that doesn't work." ~Author Unknown

TV? Cell Phones? Computers? We have limited ourselves to a 2 dimension life in a 3 dimension world. Not to be a hypocrite, I plead guilty to watching too much TV. I was watching some (crap) TV a few nights ago – and was just frustrated with myself – would have got more out of cleaning the garage. So – you have my permission to constantly remind me there is something better to do.

I’ve learned through Scouting that outdoor activities and interactive activities can lead to tremendous individual growth. This works for both youth and adults ~ we are all kids. There are several similar programs that can help. Another that has peeked my interest is Leave no child inside. ( http://leavenochildinside.org/ or http://kidsoutside.info/).

Here are a few notes from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF):

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that kids under 2 years old not watch any TV and that those older than 2 watch no more than 1 to 2 hours a day of quality programming.

The first 2 years of life are considered a critical time for brain development. TV and other electronic media can get in the way of exploring, playing, and interacting with parents and others, which encourages learning and healthy physical and social development.

As kids get older, too much screen time can interfere with activities such as being physically active, reading, doing homework, playing with friends, and spending time with family.

Of course, television, in moderation, can be a good thing:
Preschoolers can get help learning the alphabet on public television, grade schoolers can learn about wildlife on nature shows, and parents can keep up with current events on the evening news. No doubt about it — TV can be an excellent educator and entertainer.

But despite its advantages, too much television can be detrimental:
Children who consistently spend more than 4 hours per day watching TV are more likely to be overweight.
Kids who view violent acts are more likely to show aggressive behavior but also fear that the world is scary and that something bad will happen to them.
TV characters often depict risky behaviors, such as smoking and drinking, and also reinforce gender-role and racial stereotypes.

So - get outside!! Hike. Fish. Play golf, tennis, or horseshoes. Take the dog for a walk. Better yet - take somebody with you!!

"TV. If kids are entertained by two letters, imagine the fun they'll have with twenty-six. Open your child's imagination. Open a book. " ~Author Unknown

"The smallest bookstore still contains more ideas of worth than have been presented in the entire history of television." ~Andrew Ross