The stats are clear as day. We are entering times where children are certainly less fit than ever before. It now takes children 90 seconds longer to run a mile than their parents did. Caroline Williams states, in her book Move, 10 year olds today are 20-30% weaker than they were 30 years ago. Many of these stats are before COVID set in, which increased screen time and produced even more sedentary lifestyles than before.

Shifting priorities in schools is likely a factor unquestionably. I came across a statistic recently that the average school gets $750 every year to spend on new equipment for the whole student body. With the continued heightened emphasis on classroom performance, PE classes are being pushed to the wayside. Even when recess is still an option for students, over 44% of time spent by children during recess is sedentary.

Still, placing blame on schools is a losing battle. It begins in the home. Screen time in adolescents went from 3.8 hours per day before COVID to 7.8 hours per day, a 110% increase! Setting early foundational behaviors that limit screen time certainly seems like a wise option, as my wife and I try to watch as little TV during our daughter’s waking life as possible. How long will we be able to keep this up? Time will tell.

At Fitbit, we push the optimal activity plan is frequent short bursts of intense physical activity, coupled with more simple movement throughout the day. Americans compensate their sedentary lives with more frequent 30-minute gym sessions, but we know the overall daily movement is just as important, if not more so. Fitbits work well for children because kids become more aware of their daily activity levels. I hope as we continue to evolve as a society, parents are able to recognize the importance of physical activity and make increasing activity as important as math and science.