Theme Park:
Summer 2008 Topic: Screen Time Replacing Physical Activity Time
Most kids today are spending way too much time engaging in non-active screen time activities. Essential physical activity has been replaced with time spent in front of interactive media such as television, video games and the computer. Canadian children and youth are spending hours, immediately after-school and on weekends, accumulating screen time and being inactive.
The 2008 Active Healthy Kids Canada’s Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, indicates that the screen time grade has dropped from a “D-” to a distressing “F”. The reason being, that Canadian children and youth interest in screen time has increased, and new data indicates that even preschoolers are consuming a high dose of screen time.
With 90% of children and youth not meeting Canada’s Physical Activity Guidelines, high screen time numbers must be considered. “In each weekday, young Canadians are averaging 5-6 hours of screen time, and this climbs to between 6-7.5 hours per day on the weekend,” says, Dr. Mark Tremblay, Chief Scientific Officer, Active Healthy Kids Canada. “Also disturbing is research indicating that preschoolers as early as three months of age have developed viewing habits approaching two hours of TV per day.”
The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends no more than 1 hour of TV per day for preschoolers. With respect to school-aged children and youth, there are recommendations for no more than two hours per day of TV or leisure-related screen time. Kids have developed a dependency on screen time as a source of leisure related activity. High screen time behavior is associated with low fitness levels and low self-efficacy for physical activity.
Working Collaboratively To Reduce Screen Time
When it comes to reducing children and youth screen time allotment, collectively there are many things that we can do. Through concerted efforts, we will most likely start to make headway in this area.
Parents
Parents are role models and should mediate where and when kids are in front of the screen. Screen time for children and youth must be balanced with physical activity time. It is also important, that family time is spent being physically active and ensuring there are many opportunities for fun free play and outdoor play.
Practitioners – Educators and Community Leaders
School and community programs that include time management strategies for reducing screen time and increasing physical activity during after-school time have been shown to be effective. Practitioners can also develop engaging activities for children and youth where they can participate in increased physical activity and active play.
Policy- Makers and Industry Leaders
Physical activity among children and youth need to be a top priority on policy agendas and campaigns that promote reduced screen time and increased active play time are essential. We need to ensure sustainable investment in the development/enhancement and implementation of policies and initiatives affecting the issue of inactivity.
Researchers
Studies on family screen time viewing patterns, examining the effectiveness of strategies that limit screen time and increase physical activity, would provide useful learning on how families can address the issue. An overall population health approach needs to be considered, to increase physical activity levels and decrease screen time sedentary behaviours.
Physicians and Health Care Providers
Talk to parents about guidelines for screen time use and prescribe physical activity as part of an overall healthy lifestyle. During patient visits, clearly communicate the recommended guidelines for physical activity for the prevention and treatment of chronic health conditions.
Let’s Get Active
It’s clear, all children, regardless of background, are inactive due to increased screen time viewing outweighing time spent being physically activity. No sub-group within our population of children and youth are meeting the current screen time and physical activity recommendations.
Progress can be made, if we band together to come up with unique strategies and solutions that will engage our children and youth and encourage sustainability. As influencers and advocates we can establish a culture in which the ultimate result is a population of young Canadians who are physically active and healthy. Active Healthy Kids Canada would like to thank the following Partners:
Report Card Development Partners:
Sponsorship Partners:
The views expressed in the Report Card do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Content is provided as an information-sharing service and inclusion does not represent endorsement by PARC, Ophea or their funders. Funded by the Government of Ontario.
