“游戲讓我們得以保持身心健康。”
-- Stuart Brown博士。
多數(shù)兒童都喜歡在戶外的游樂場上跑、跳、蕩秋千和滑滑梯，因?yàn)閮和梢詮闹械玫娇鞓泛蜆啡ぁＱ芯堪l(fā)現(xiàn)，戶外游戲帶給兒童的絕不僅僅是快樂，而是對保持兒童身體健康有重要的作用。
醫(yī)生及健康專家不斷地給大家發(fā)出警告—兒童的身體健康狀況正在下降。造成兒童身體健康狀況下降的原因有很多，包括：越來越多的垃圾食品、含糖飲料、不斷增長的快餐射入量、及長時(shí)間的靜態(tài)活動（玩電玩和上網(wǎng)）。據(jù)美國疾病防控中心的調(diào)查資料，自1980年以來，年輕人體重超標(biāo)的數(shù)量增長了兩倍。其中6-19歲的年輕人當(dāng)中，16%（900多萬）被認(rèn)為體重超標(biāo)。另外，美國國家健康數(shù)據(jù)中心的報(bào)告顯示，小學(xué)生中肥胖兒童的比例自1980年以來也翻了一番，從7%上升到了14%。 要控制這個(gè)趨勢，CDC及其他專業(yè)人士建議增加兒童的戶外活動水平，減少兒童看電視的時(shí)間。需特別指出的是，一項(xiàng)新的研究建議5-16歲的兒童每天至少應(yīng)該進(jìn)行1.5小時(shí)的身體活動。
戶外游戲是兒童進(jìn)行身體活動的主要形式。醫(yī)生指出這1.5小時(shí)的身體活動兒童不需要通過跑步機(jī)或進(jìn)行正式的體育活動來實(shí)現(xiàn)。事實(shí)上，兒童需要的只是“能夠自由的奔跑并讓身體動起來就可以，哪怕是每天進(jìn)行多次短時(shí)間的自由活動。”
雖然兒童在戶外游戲時(shí)的活動水平有所不同，但幾乎可以肯定地說兒童在戶外游戲中的活動量和參與程度一定比兒童看電視或玩電玩時(shí)的活動量大得多。不同的游樂設(shè)施給兒童提供不同難度和程度的活動，所以不同年齡段和不同能力水平的兒童都可以從戶外游樂場的游戲中獲得身體的健康。研究發(fā)現(xiàn)游戲?qū)和慕∩韮r(jià)值包括以下幾個(gè)方面：反應(yīng)能力和行為控制，鍛煉兒童肌肉的活動技能，提高兒童的平衡協(xié)調(diào)能力，讓兒童在游戲中學(xué)習(xí)行走、跑、跳、扔、攀爬、滑滑梯和蕩秋千。所有這些游戲都將提高兒童的身體健康水平。研究發(fā)現(xiàn)：身體活動更為積極的兒童在血壓、膽固醇和胰島素方面比其他孩子更健康。帶孩子去兒童游樂場是我們能為他們提供或跟他們一起參與的最有趣最健康的活動。家長是兒童學(xué)習(xí)和模仿的榜樣。為兒童樹立一種健康積極的生活榜樣-包括戶外游戲-是保持兒童身體健康的第一步。
“Play keeps us fit physically and mentally.” Stuart Brown, M.D. Most kids love to run, jump, swing and climb on outdoor playgrounds because it’s fun. But research shows outdoor play is much more than just fun, it’s necessary to help keep kids physically fit and healthy.
Doctors and health care professionals have increasingly warned about the declining physical health of children, caused by many factors including more junk food and sugary drinks, larger restaurant portions, more fast food consumption, and sedentary activity from playing video games and using computers. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the percentage of young people who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980. Among children aged 6-19 years, 16 percent – over 9 million young people – are considered overweight. In addition, the National Center for Health Statistics reports that the percentage of elementary-age children who are considered obese has doubled since 1980, from 7 percent to 14 percent. To combat this epidemic, the CDC and others recommend increased levels of physical activity and reducing the time children spend watching television. Specifically, a new study recommends 1.5 hours of physical activity for children aged 5-16.
Outdoor play is the cornerstone of physical activity for kids. Doctors note that kids don’t have to be running on treadmills or playing sports during that time. In fact, the study says kids “… just need to be able to run around and play physically, even for short bursts of time.”
Although kids’ levels of activity vary when they play outside, they are almost certainly higher than when they watch television or play video games. Different playground equipment lends itself to varying levels of activity, making it easy for kids of all age groups and ability levels to physically benefit from outdoor play on a playground. Research has shown that the physical benefits of play include learning reflexes and movement control, developing fine and gross motor skills, increasing flexibility and balancing skills; learning to walk, run, jump, throw, climb, slide and swing. These activities all lead to improved physical health and fitness. Increased physical activity for children has proven to be effective. Studies show that children who are more physically active are healthier when it comes to blood pressure, cholesterol and insulin levels. Taking kids to the playground is one of the most fun, and healthy, things you can do for – and with – them. Parents can be the best advocates for physical activity and play. Setting an example of a healthy, active lifestyle – one that includes outdoor play – is the first step toward keeping kids on a path to good physical health.
轉(zhuǎn)自美國IPEMA Voice of Play官方網(wǎng)站 翻譯：Cathy Xu
