Not too long ago, kids used to spend most of their free time running around outdoors, playing sports and riding their bikes.
Not too long ago, kids used to spend most of their free time running around outdoors, playing sports and riding their bikes. But today’s kids belong to the Generation E (for electronics), and too many would rather spend their time playing tennis on their Wii (if that) than tennis on the courts. According to County Superintendent of Schools Michael Watkins, “Young people are more inclined to play with iPods, video games and television.” He should know, based on the physical fitness test results for students in Santa Cruz County.
Just 25 percent of fifth graders passed the statewide physical fitness test, and even in Scotts Valley, home to the most physically fit students, less than half passed. Seventh graders did slightly better, with just over 33 percent passing, while 40 percent of ninth graders passed. The statistics show a clear decline as children get younger, and reflect national statistics about childhood health. Nationwide, twice as many children and three times as many teens are likely to be overweight than their peers in the 1980s.
Watkins attributes at least part of the problem to the schools. While instruction in literacy and math has improved, little emphasis is being placed on nutrition or physical education, especially in the wake of government cuts. But, he adds, it is also up to the parents to get their kids outside and active, because a smart kid isn’t necessarily a healthy kid. As the debate over healthcare heats up in the U.S. Senate, that is something schools and parents should remember. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
