A study revealed that American kids spend a staggering seven hours a day glued to screens, often at the expense of outdoor play. While the convenience of technology is undeniable, this shift in playtime habits comes at a cost.
Black children, however, spend more time on electronics than their peers do, according to a 2019 Common Sense Media survey. Preschool-aged children use media for an average of five hours and 55 minutes per day, while African American teens use it for an average of seven hours and 22 minutes per day.
Experts are urging parents to prioritize “green time” over screen time, highlighting the many benefits of letting children explore the wonders of the natural world.
“As a parent, the best way to encourage your children to be more active is to be more intentional about it. It might require you to add it to your daily schedule as a routine,” said Dr. Eboni Hollier, founder and chief medical advisor of DrEboniPEDS.com. “From a medical standpoint, certainly in communities of color, we see an increased incidence of medical conditions, issues like obesity and diabetes and heart disease. Increasing physical activity and outdoor time helps to reduce that risk in our children.”
Benefits of playing outdoors
Beyond the simple enjoyment of playing outside, outdoor play profoundly impacts a child’s well-being. One crucial benefit lies in the development of executive function skills. Unlike the structured environment of screens, outdoor play allows for open-ended exploration. Children can make up their games, troubleshoot problems, negotiate with friends, and multitask – all essential skills for academic success and future endeavors. This unstructured play also fosters self-reflection. As children experiment, they evaluate the successes and failures of their ideas, building valuable life lessons.
Hollier said there are effective ideas parents or guardians can use to encourage children to play outdoors. One must be mindful of how much social media is used in the home because children most likely model behavior based on what they see. She recalled when her then 2-year-old son was seeking her attention, but her phone played a role in her distraction.
“When parents are more available, they can pick up certain cues,” she said. “I encourage parents to consider using whatever is accessible to them. I often advise parents to use toys that don’t require batteries or a cord. Simple things, a jump rope, a ball, um, sidewalk talk, uh, you know, building blocks. These are just very simple things. It’s less about the toy and more about the interaction.”
She also mentioned that playing outside teaches children how to approach and manage risk, a skill that translates to other aspects of life. Unlike screens, which primarily engage sight and hearing, the outdoors engages all five senses.
The cons of too much screen time
The negative effects of excessive screen time on children’s health are well documented. Hours spent sedentary in front of screens lead to a lack of physical activity, increasing the risk of obesity and hindering the development of fine and gross motor skills. Tapping and scrolling replace the active play that strengthens muscles and promotes coordination.
The consequences of excessive screen time can be severe mentally, too. Too much screen time is linked to decreased social interaction, poor sleep quality, and increased anxiety and depression. Setting healthy boundaries around technology use and prioritizing outdoor play is essential to mitigating these negative effects and fostering a balanced lifestyle.
Many programs in the Houston area provide outdoor activities for parents who struggle with time management. The Boys and Girls Club of Houston (BGCGH) is one of them. We serve more than 50,000 youth annually through 26 Clubs across five counties in the Greater Houston area. They’ve prioritized their club members’ emotional and mental well-being, especially after the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“One of our biggest concerns was what would happen to the children coming out of COVID regarding how they socialize. Kids were locked indoors for months,” said Clifford Grimes, vice president of public affairs & organizational development at BGCHG. “We want them to have that opportunity to reconnect. And a lot of kids have to learn how to re-socialize and get along with one another and handle disagreements.”
