Raising Indoor Kids? It’s Wildlife Week

Children today spend an average of only 4-7 minutes outside each day, while their screen time averages an astounding 7 hours and 38 minutes a day, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. This decline in outdoor time has been linked to rising rates of childhood obesity, depression, stress, and ADD, but, thankfully, this is one serious problem that has a simple (and fun!) solution.

Time in nature has been to shown to improve kids’ physical, mental and emotional health, boost classroom performance, and encourage conservation stewardship. Building on First Lady Michele Obama’s new “Let’s Move” initiative, this month the National Wildlife Federation is sending the message, “Let’s Move—Outside!”

Sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Wildlife Week (March 15-21) encourages kids to unleash their inner wild child—to learn, explore, discover and imagine, during green hours spent outdoors. The theme this year, Be Out There At Home, School and Play, takes a holistic approach. It aims to bring children and their families together in nature, get schools involved in going green, and show kids why the outdoors is an ideal place to play during their downtime.

“We’re raising a generation of indoor children who are missing out on the simple joys found in nature,” says Rebecca Garland, Executive Director of NWF’s Be Out There movement. “Our kids need to know why they call it the great outdoors.” NWF recommends that parents give their kids at least one green hour every day.

Visit NWF’s Web site this month, and you’ll discover resources for kids, parents and educators, including an official Family Activity Passport with a week’s worth of local plant and animal wildlife watch lists and fun nature-themed games. You can also link to NWF’s NatureFind program for nearby outdoor recreation spots where National Wildlife Week is in full swing. Teachers and parents can also find tips, lesson plans and activities, plus info on how to help green your school with NWF’s EcoSchools USA program.