Toys Make Kids Fat
Gym teachers are blaming toys for the increase in childhood obesity. They lament the toys of today - MP3 players, games consoles and DVDs - and wish kids were into bicycles, skateboards or cricket bats (these teachers are British) instead.
The survey by Newi’s School of Health and Social Care found that some 85% of PE teachers thought children were less fit than they should be. Toys were said to have the biggest influence on children’s fitness, followed by parents.
I think kids still want bikes and skateboards. But since there are fewer outdoor places for them to play than maybe when I was a kid 20 years ago, they’re spending more time indoors watching TV and playing video games. Perhaps the problem isn’t the toys themselves, but the atmosphere of danger and fear we live in.
icWales, December 28, 2005
Technorati Tags: toys, kids, children, exercise, fitness
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POSTED IN: Children's Toys, News and Links about Children's Things
5 opinions for Toys Make Kids Fat
Julie
Dec 29, 2005 at 11:47 am
How true! I completely agree with you!
Lei
Dec 30, 2005 at 1:14 am
Julie: Thanks for the comment! Great minds think alike. ;)
Deb
Dec 31, 2005 at 1:49 pm
I have to agree too. Also, at least in the US, schools are cutting back or cutting out the time kids get on the playground and the number and length of PE classes in order to squeeze in extra time to prep for NCLB tests and requirements.
Lei
Dec 31, 2005 at 10:53 pm
Deb: As much as I hated PE and think the curriculum needs an overhaul (hope it’s changed since I was a kid), I do think it gives kids some much needed physical activity.
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