Technology is negatively impacting children's physical health and development. Studies show that compared to previous generations, today's children are weaker and less able to do physical tasks due to excessive technology use (phones, tablets, computers) replacing active play. This sedentary lifestyle leads to health issues like obesity, ADHD, and diabetes. Experts recommend at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily for youth, but many get only 5-10 minutes as technology increasingly dominates their free time. More active engagement with others through sports, outdoor play, and limiting screen time could help reverse these troubling trends.

1. H O W T E C H N O L O G Y L E A D S T O L A C K O F
P H Y S I C A L A C T I V I T Y A N D H O W I T I S
A F F E C T I N G O U R F U T U R E G E N E R A T I O N S
Problems on Well-Being

2. Technology and Children
 A generation dedicated to technology
 10 year olds can do fewer sit-ups
 Less able to hang from bars in a gym
 Arm strength has declined
 Children in this generation are becoming weaker,
with decreased muscular abilities, and unable to do
physical activities that previous generations were
able to do.

3. Technology and Children
 Children rely on technology for majority of their play
 With more technology uses in children, the limited
creativity and imagination is shown
 Limited challenges to their bodies to achieve optimal
sensory and motor development
 Children struggle with attention skills necessary for
learning, later becoming behavior management
problems

4. Facts about kids using technology
 38% of children under 2 have used mobile device for
playing games / watching videos
 45% of parents with children aged 2-3 plan to
purchase devices for their kids to read ebooks
 78% of teenagers, ages 12-17 have a cellphone and
23% have a tablet
 93% of teenagers have a computer or access to one
 41% of the generation spends 3+ hours a day on
computers for non related activities

5. Technology and Children’s Health because of
Lack of Physical Activity
 Child obesity and diabetes are now epidemics in both
Canada and the U.S.
 Diagnoses in ADHD, autism, coordination, sensory
processing disorder, anxiety, depression, and sleep
disorders
 All of these health issues are directly related to
technology overuse

6. Benefits of Physical Activity
 Important part of health living at any age, essentially
for children
 Physical Activity helps children:
Develop cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility, and
bone density
Maintain healthy body weight
Reduce the risk of chronic disease and health problems
Lessen likelihood of tobacco, alcohol, drug use
Improved mental health and well-being

7. Technology and Children’s Physical Activity
 Dr Gavin Sandercock  Chidren’s fitness expert at
Essex University
 Study showed how strong 315 Essex 10 year olds in
2008 were compared to the same age from 1998
 Results:
Arm strengh fell by 26% and grip strength by 7%
The number of sit-ups 10 year olds can do declined
by 27% during 1998 and 2008
1 in 20 children could not hold their own weight in
1998, 1 in 10 could not in 2008

8. More Use of Technology with Less Physical
Activity Leads to Obesity
 Study states that obesity is on the rise not from only
food, but also from increase of use of technology and
less exercise
 Pediatricians say severe obesity is increasing among
young people
 Technology includes cars, television, computers, and
mobile devices
 The amount of time children spend sedentary means
an increase in physical inactivity

9. How much physical activity is enough?
 Recommended that youth get atleast 60 minutes a
day of moderate – physical activity
 Can increase your childs physical activity by just 5 or
10 minutes every few weeks
 Eventually will add up to 60 minutes
 Spend less time on stationary activities (TV,
computer, Ipad)

10. How to Encourage Physical Activity
 Encourage children to walk or ride bikes to school
 Schedule active times for children after school
 Set a positive example by being a active family
 Praise your children for being active
 Combine periods of moderate activity (walking) with
vigorous activity (running)

11. Physical Activity and Children
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbEeaBULvys

12. Technology and Children
 Four critical factors to achieve healthy child
development:
 Movement
 Touch
 Human Connection
 Exposure to Nature

15. Technology and Children
 Technology is having a devastating effect on the
future generations health
 Not only health, but psychological, behavioral, and
also their ability to learn and sustain personal and
family relationship
 Rather than hugging, playing, and conversing with
children, parents are resorting to providing their
children children with more TV, video games, cell
phones etc.

16. Symbolic Interactionism
 A sociological perspective that emphasizes that
human behavior is influenced by definitions and
meanings that are created and maintained through
symbolic interaction with others
 Children will become more aware of how important
physical activity is by interaction with other active
kids/ adults. If they hangout with kids that play
video games they will think that is ok and consider it
“physical activity” rather than playing soccer or
another sport with other kids

17. References
 Campbell, D. (2011). Children growing weaker as computers replace outdoor activity. Retrieved March
30, 2016, from http://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/may/21/children-weaker-computers-
replace-activity
 Children and physical activity. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2016, from
http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/healthy-living-vie-saine/being-active-etre-actif/tips-conseils-eng.php
 THE COLD HARD FACTS ABOUT KIDS USING TECHNOLOGY AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT -
Ryan Jenkins - Speaker, Trainer & Author. (2014). Retrieved March 30, 2016, from http://ryan-
jenkins.com/2014/12/18/the-cold-hard-facts-about-kids-using-technology-and-what-to-do-about-it/
 Technology Blamed for Children's Lack of Exercise. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2016, from
http://www.parenting.com/blogs/screen-play/jeana-lee-tahnk/technology-blamed-children-s-lack-
exercise
 The Four Negative Sides of Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2016, from
http://www.edudemic.com/the-4-negative-side-effects-of-technology/