A new survey found that parents are alarmed at the amount of time children spend on electronic devices at the expense of physical activities like swimming. But experts say parents can help their children strike a balance.
In the survey, parents credited swimming with improving children’s cardiovascular health. In addition to the 93% of parents who are concerned about the health implications of spending too much time on electronic devices, 86% are concerned about the impact on children’s social skills. And one in four did not know that swimming in a well-maintained pool with a proper chlorine level and pH is a healthy activity for children with asthma.
Here are five tips from the Water Quality and Health Council for keeping kids active this summer:
- Discuss with your children the health consequences of spending too much time on electronic devices at the expense of more physical pursuits, such as swimming.
- Have a family meeting to decide together what the right mix of time is for your family on electronic devices versus swimming.
- Ask your children if they would swim more if you made a commitment to get them to a pool on a regular basis.
- Express your interest in spending face-to-face time with your children. Letting your children know that you are also willing to turn off the electronics is an important idea to share.
- Located the municipal or community pool in your area and build in time to get there with your children.
For more information, visit www.healthypools.org.
