Raising Healthier Kids by Reclaiming the Childhoods We Knew

Parents: think back on your childhood. If you grew up in the 70s, 80s, or 90s, you likely recall your weekends consisting of getting up in the morning and going out to play or hang out with your friends. Perhaps you came home for a quick lunch before heading out again to explore and adventure. When the street lights came on, or Mom whistled, it was time to come in for the day.

With rising concerns about screen time, obesity, and mental health, many of us recall our youth with nostalgia. There were challenges, but we learned about ourselves through real experiences. This "unsupervised play" wasn’t just fun; it built our prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive function and risk assessment. Now, many kids stay inside, texting and scrolling social media until they fall asleep. Teens average up to 9 hours of screen time daily. This lack of exercise and in-person social interaction has implications for future physical and mental health.

The Positives
Information is a great thing, and kids today have an endless supply of it. Gone are the days of looking up something in the Encyclopedia Britannica. Gen Z (1997–2012) is drinking less than prior generations. This generation also understands things like sun damage, and most aren’t lathering their skin with baby oil (yep, guilty as charged) and spending the day in a lounge chair soaking up the sun. They are doing things that will help them live longer and better.

But why haven’t they realized the impact of not getting outside to play or connect face-to-face? Why hasn’t the harm from excessive scrolling—on health, sleep, development—become common knowledge? The answer: not enough clear voices urging a return to independent, outdoor play. That must change.

The Reality
The pandemic had a significant impact on our youth. Parents who had children or teens during lockdown often feel that their children are mentally younger than their age. We are seeing considerable social-emotional developmental delays because children were unable to engage in normal activities. Classes moved online, and most social interaction took place digitally. Sports often stopped. While some still went outside for activities like running, hiking, or exploring, many did so alone. Especially difficult was that many seniors missed out on milestones like prom and in-person graduation ceremonies.

Issues with screen time, obesity, and mental health existed before COVID, but the pandemic intensified them. The CDC reports nearly 42% of students feel persistently sad or hopeless. One might expect post-lockdown kids to rush outside, but instead, technology remains a strong draw, leaving many kids addicted to screens and struggling with face-to-face interactions.

How You Can Make a Difference
So what has to happen? Well, we have a lot of really smart people talking about the dangers of “screen time” and how many applications are designed to keep them scrolling, autoplaying the next video with each swipe of the finger. The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a new digital media policy statement for children and adolescents. It recognizes the benefits of media use, while also highlighting the dangers. The statement calls for change, refocusing the design of applications so they benefit the child or teen, not profits or market share.

Changing how apps are used and the age at which kids can access them is a step in the right direction. But ultimately, we must rethink parenting to give kids a childhood rooted in personal experience, freedom, and real-world play—just as many of us enjoyed.

Encourage kids to be outside until they love it. Only about 24% of kids get the recommended hour of daily physical activity. Let them get creative, building forts, and burning off energy by running, playing tag, and racing friends. Be intentional about when your child should receive their first phone, and set limits on usage time. Encourage sports too.
Parents also need to practice what they are preaching.

So put your phone down, turn the television off, and at dinner tonight, share one story about your favorite childhood adventure—then ask your kids to imagine or even plan an outdoor activity you could do together. Make conversations about fun without screens a regular part of your mealtime. Lead by example: commit to one new outdoor activity with your children this week, and encourage them to invite their friends. Reinforce that you want them to have exciting, memorable experiences—just like you did.