All Work and No Place to Play- Fear of the Outdoors

The great outdoors holds no attractions for Aussie kids of the present generation, reveals a survey. In fact, fear of the outdoors has restricted kids and adolescents in Australia to hanging out in shopping centers, play computer games or go to school.

According to the study of Sydney kids, both primary school-aged boys and girls and adolescents have nowhere to play in a modern city.

Obesity - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Complications, Treatment
Obesity is a condition where there is excess accumulation of body fat which poses a risk to the health of the individual. It can affect children and adults.

The data from the New South Wales child watchdog, the Commission of Children and Young People, comes after the New South Wales (NSW) Government failed to act on a two-year-old inquiry that warned children were missing out on playtime.

According to the Commission's Built Environment report, kids don't like to catch public transport because they are worried they will be robbed or see people do drugs.

"It's not safe on the streets if you're alone, you can't go to public toilets, the train station's not safe. There are people doing drugs," News.com.au quoted a 12-year-old boy, as saying.

Obese Kids Show Early Signs of Heart Disease
A study has found that kids who are obese or who are at risk for obesity show early signs of heart disease, similar to obese adults with heart disease.

An eight-year-old girl said she didn't like playing in parks because 'someone might come and do things to you ... or you could be bare feet and step on syringes'.

Kids aged from four to 18 nominated their top favorite places or things to do as shopping, bowling, roller-coasters, movies, school, Disneyland, Timezone and Questacon - a science center in Canberra.

Junk Food Ad Ban ? What Parents Want
AMA is heartened that a new national survey confirms the overwhelming majority of parents support a ban on junk food advertising.

Rebekah Jeffery, 12, says she would rather hit the shops than play outside.

"It's safer to be at the shopping mall because there are more people," she said.

Family Summer Vacations Foster Mental Wellness and Togetherness
The annual family summer vacation has become outdated with youngsters planning out itinerary for that long-awaited vacation with pals.

Child experts are now calling on the NSW Government to act upon its own report that urban sprawl was resulting in ever-shrinking play zones for children.

Source-ANI
TAN/M