Making Family Connections ~~Outdoors~~ This program is about making connections. Families are going all in different directions so spending time actually becoming close and knowing each other is more and more difficult. Combine this with the overuse of television and the obesity epidemic --that leads to problems. Let’s talk about this.

The NC Outdoor Learning Environments Alliance (NC OLE Alliance) is a group of concerned family and child agency representatives working together to encourage families to “PLAY OUTSIDE!” There is a growing trend to help people realize the important health and learning values of the outdoors. For too long, we have been an indoor society…too much tv, too much computer usage, and too few human connections replaced by media use. The NC Outdoor Learning Environments Alliance is a group of professionals working together to change this and encourage more play outside. This is their logo. Let’s talk more about why!

What we know . . . We have always believed that it is healthy for children to play outdoors. An increasing body of research indicates HOW important outdoor play really is! Did you used to play outside? What do you remember doing? Create discussion by asking: Was it messy? Was it fun? Was it sometimes dangerous? Were you supervised?

Myth or Fact? Being outdoors cannot affect the obesity problem. Pediatricians recommend no TV for children under age 2 The outdoors can help your relationship with your child TV has led to some poor results for children and families

It is important for. . . and much more! Health Fitness Attention/Focus Emotional/Social development Social skills Language development Nature/science knowledge Complexity of play Problem-solving skills We know that it is important for some of these reasons. and much more!

Why aren’t children going outside? Safety concerns Crime Traffic Rules, regulations, sanitation Air quality – ozone days Sun safety Current conditions Lack of high quality outdoor environments Over-emphasis on academics But why don’t families spend more time outdoors? Safety- children are often in self-care while their parents work and told to stay indoors. There are often not safe places to go in some neighborhoods to play (broken equipment, glass, vandals) Allergies, sun exposure And schools have cut recess thinking that will help children achieve higher grades if they play outside less. Instead it has had a negative effect.

What are the consequences? Decline in physical fitness Rising childhood obesity rates, juvenile diabetes Increase in attention issues More allergies, asthma, respiratory illness Children not learning to care for/appreciate the environment We are seeing (read slide)

Obesity is a concern for adults and children Obesity is a critical health problem that has increased to serious effects on long term health. So now we have obese adults and children alike.

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults 1991, 1996, 2004 (*BMI 30, or about 30 lbs overweight for 5’4” person) 1991 1996 2004 Look at these maps. Study how the obesity problem has grown over time from 1991 until 2004. It may take that long to fix it! No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%

So what?! Obese children lead to obese adults Sedentary activities The strongest predictor of physical activity among children is time spent outdoors. Here is a bit more…. Since 1966 the number of overweight children ages 6-11 has increased from 4% of the US population to 15% (almost a 400% increase). 70% of these children will become obese adults. A sedentary activity is TV watching (National Center for health Statistics) The strongest predictor of physical activity among children is time spent outdoors.

Children need 1 hour per day of vigorous activity. (U. S Children need 1 hour per day of vigorous activity. (U.S. Surgeon General) But… More than half of parents (54%) said that they had little or no time to spend engaged in physical activity with their children, but wish they had more time. Children need play outside…but parents say…(read slide)

Research tells us . . . . Children who are exposed to natural environments attend better for longer periods of time. Exposure to nature and natural settings improves attention span. This means NATURAL settings- GREEN. Not paved.

Another consequence… Attention and behavior problems are being increasingly reported by teachers and parents. Focus discipline I am sure you have heard about ADHD. Well activity increasing plus GREEN environments help this condition. Since 1991, prescriptions for ADHD medications quintupled. ADHD medications prescriptions for children ages 2 to 4 increased almost 300% between 1991 and 1995. About six million children, roughly one in eight children, will take ADHD medications. Simply increasing activity outdoors is a nice alternative to drug therapy. ADHD impulse control

Research tells us . . . . Exposure to nature and natural settings decreases impulsivity in children. Exposure to nature and natural settings decreases challenging behaviors in young children. Read slide

Research tells us . . . . The outdoors facilitates children's ability to expand their sense of wonder and connection to nature. There is that word…connection again. Who will care for our environment in the new generation if not the children. Recycling, composting, NOT littering, plating trees and gardening…are a few of the activities that we need to bring back to our families as a way to connect but with a dual purpose to care for the environment. Note: You may want to involve the Extension horticulturalist of Agriculture agent to speak at a later date.

Outdoor play is Great to create family connections And simply, outdoor play is a great way to create outdoor connections.

Brainstorm Ideas for outdoor activities for your family and friendships Let’s brainstorm was to spend time outdoors. What would you do? With your family, your children or grand children, your spouse or friends outdoors? After brainstorming has stopped- distribute handout for additional ideas.