Report Gives States Policy Solutions To Increase Childhood Activity Outdoors

The National Wildlife Federation has released a report with comprehensive policy solutions to guide states in their effort to increase the amount of time children spend outdoors. The report notes that while many states have implemented programs or initiatives to combat childhood obesity none of the states they looked at had a comprehensive plan or policy that spanned education, recreation and public health.

The report found that while parents want their children to spend more time outside they do not want that time to be spent unsupervised and blame computers, television and video games for keeping their children indoors.

The National Wildlife Federation's report recommends that any legislation be comprehensive and include public health agencies, recreation agencies and schools. By increasing the time children spend outdoors the NWF says children will combat obesity and attention deficit disorder, improve performance in school, and support healthy and active communities.