The impact of technology on children's physical activity

I have chosen this subject : The impact of technology on children's physical activity. I find that it's a topic really is now up for debate.

To introduce the subject about « The impact of technology on children's physical activity », this article present us a little summary concerning the Children’s physical activity levels.
In fact, health professionals are concerned about the lack of children’s physical activity. Obesity is a major problem in the UK. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) it concern other countries. In other words, 81 per cent of adolescents aged 11–17 years were insufficiently physically active in 2010. Some interventions from this organization are planned to improve the situation.http://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/the-impact-technology-on-childrens-physical-activity/content-section-1

Here, the technology are accused of being detrimental to the children’s physical activity. Children abandon the sport for the screens. But be careful not to bring any attives conclusions, Do you remember Wii from Nintendo ?

The lesson propose an activity, you have to answers at the following question : « Is technology helping or hindering children’s physical activity levels? It’s a first reflection, in the oder to compare with my mind after the lesson.

Melody Gazengel wrote:Here, the technology are accused of being detrimental to the children’s physical activity. Children abandon the sport for the screens. But be careful not to bring any attives conclusions, Do you remember Wii from Nintendo ?  

The lesson propose an activity, you have to answers at the following question : « Is technology helping or hindering children’s physical activity levels? It’s a first reflection, in the oder to compare with my mind after the lesson.

So what do you think?

Yes, new technologies have had an impact on children's sports activity. When we did not have access to the screens, we enjoyed ourselves differently. Children were more often outside, in the garden, to frolic. The children were cycling, jumping rope, swing, doing trapeze ...

Today kids love screens, they watch cartoons on tablets. In addition, thanks to the replay and internet they have access 24 hours a day unlike formerly where children were watching TV only in the morning. When they watch TV, tablet or computer they do not move, they sit in a sofa, or in bed.

The screens have something addictive, it's scientifically proven. Many children are more attracted to these screens than outdoor activities.

But, in other cases companies have surfed this trend to develop new activities related to new technologies for exemple "Nintendo Wii". The screens then became an interface for playing sports at home. And now with virtual reality helmets it is possible to play sports in your living room by being totally immersed in the activity.

But I think these new practices are not the best solution. While this allows the child to be phisical active but he is still facing a screen. This helps to reinforce his addiction to screens, it is not good for his awakening and his health. In addition, sport in the wild is beneficial for health, it helps to clear the mind.

In a second time, the course propose us to learn about the children interaction with technology. Today, we speaks about « digitals natives » !

The course offers us to watch a short video. This video show a girl who use her phones’ mother. The first thing she do when she gets up in the morning, comes out and say’s mommy wher is you Ipad ? She spend more time with screen in spite of school, family…
A specialist advise to stimulate children, they are the reflect of their parents. If you are connecting, you child too ; because you don’t take the time to propose him an activity. A screen is a easy solution to be quiet, but becomes a drug for children and everybody.

What technology did you have access to?

When I was child, I could watch TV, often with my parents and sister the evening or at my nurse's home. But In fact, I was myopic, the doctor realized when I was 7 years old. So I did not really like TV, I did not understand the interest. The sofa was too far from the TV for me so it was shity !
We had a computer when I was 7, I used it lots of time to play Sims ! I was really addicted to this game, my mother did not understand why. She often gave me reflections about it.