Dear friend,
Throughout my journey as the CEO of Playfinity, I have been exposed to situations that have further opened my eyes to youth inactivity. I want to share some examples with you because they have hit me like a ton of bricks.
- Many schools do not have the budget to run sports teams, host sporting events or even have sports equipment for gym class.
- Kids are dropping out of sports younger and younger - our number we report is 13 years old; this is from 2016. We have found more reports mentioning 8-11 years old.
- Parks have been sitting EMPTY for more than five years! This is not a “covid” excuse.
- Kids are spending on average 8 hours a day on screens - like it or not!
- The rate at which children can now access tablets, phones and the internet is younger and faster than I could have imagined. Children 12 and under will not know life without a smartphone.
- Kids want to play. But in most cases they have to choose VERY early if they will take the elite track, or not. If not, they don't have many options.
Additionally, I’ve been to various sports and technology events, and what I've noticed is that most discussions, solutions, and research primarily focus on adults or high-performance youth athletes while neglecting the majority of kids who lose interest in or opt-out of sports entirely. The concerning reality is that youth disengaging from sports, avoiding physical activity, and becoming sedentary is a pressing issue that isn't receiving enough attention. To make matters worse, there is a lack of focus on how to re-engage them in physical activity.
Let's pause for a moment and consider this: children spend countless hours lounging on the couch or in their rooms staring at screens and scrolling through social media, with little time spent outdoors being active. Thus, their physical, mental, emotional, and social health is compromised. This is something we should all be alarmed about as a community. Children and youth are less happy, less connected, less healthy, and sleep less, and as a result, childhood depression and anxiety are on the rise.
So what can we do about it?
We understand the challenge of navigating our children's screen time. As screens increasingly seep into their lives, it can be difficult to know how to manage it all. Nonetheless, we must all accept and address this challenge seriously and find ways to inspire better habits in our children and youth.
It's not about pointing fingers, but rather acknowledging that change is a communal effort, and we need to begin with dialogue and action. Whether parents, coaches, teachers, brands, legislators, public officials, or athletes, we must collaborate and lead by example to foster change. Physical activity is critical for physical health, mental health, and our ability to do everyday activities.
Whether you are just going out for a walk, doing ten jumping jacks in your living room, or even running up and down the stairs for five minutes, it helps! Let’s lead by example! Together, we can create a healthier and happier future for our children and positively impact their lives.
Have fun and keep playing!
