Its Summer Time and the kids are out of school. This is the time for enjoying the outdoors, time at the pool and going on family vacations. So what do the majority of kids do during the summer? Watching TV.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF):
- two-thirds of infants and toddlers watch a screen an average of 2 hours a day
- kids under age 6 watch an average of about 2 hours of screen media a day, primarily TV and videos or DVDs
- kids and teens 8 to 18 years spend nearly 4 hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost 2 additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that kids under 2 years old not watch any TV and that those older than 2 watch no more than 1 to 2 hours a day of quality programming.
It has been proven that TV can have many adverse effects on children (and adult) well-being. So here are some fun things you can do with your kids this summer instead of watching TV:
Go for a walk
Sing and dance
Collect leaves
Draw on a sidewalk
Go to the zoo
Race little matchbox cars
Make a snack
Visit somebody you know
Take a cool bath with your swim suits on
Wash the car
Put puzzles together
Play dress up
Go fishing
Write a story together
Finger paint
Play hopscotch
Fly a kite
Look at the clouds for shapes
Go to the library
Memorize states and capitols
Build a house of cardboard
Go roller-skating
Write a letter and send it
Pick fruit at an orchard
These are just a few suggestions. There are so many more things you can do with your kids this summer! So get out there and enjoy the extra time you have.