The connection between childhoodThe connection between childhoodnature deficit and air qualitynature deficit and air qualityprotection in the U.S.protection in the U.S.Kevin J CoyleKevin J CoyleNational Wildlife FederationNational Wildlife FederationAmericaAmerica’s New Indoor Childhoods New Indoor ChildhoodAmerican kids no longerAmerican kids no longerplay together outdoorsplay together outdoorsInstead they spend 6.3Instead they spend 6.3hours perhours perdaystaring atstaring atelectronic screenselectronic screensNot including homework!Not including homework!A Profound ChangeA Profound ChangeEstimates are thatEstimates are thatchildren spend 10X thechildren spend 10X theamount of timeamount of timewatching screenswatching screensindoors than playingindoors than playingoutdoorsoutdoorsLoss of social andLoss of social andinterpersonal skillsinterpersonal skillsWeekly Outdoor Time?Weekly Outdoor Time?Unstructured outdoor play?Unstructured outdoor play?–30 to 5030 to 50minutesminutesper weekper weekAdd in organized sports?Add in organized sports?–4 hours per week4 hours per weekCompare indoorCompare indoor“screen”time––44 hours week44 hours weekHealth ProfessionalsHealth Professionals:CDC says kids missingCDC says kids missingabout 60 minutes perabout 60 minutes perday of light to moderateday of light to moderateactivityactivityAAP says kids need anAAP says kids need anhour per day ofhour per day ofunstructured playunstructured playAffects attention spansAffects attention spansand creativityand creativityThe Missing Foundation ofThe Missing Foundation ofFitnessFitnessEarly onset of diabetesEarly onset of diabetesCardio-pulmonarypulmonaryproblemsproblemsPoorer overall state ofPoorer overall state ofhealthShorter lifeShorter life-spans––3 to5 years5 yearsIndoor Childhood:Indoor Childhood:The enemy of preventativeThe enemy of preventativehealth care on a vasthealth care on a vastsocietal scalesocietal scaleDisproportionate ImpactsDisproportionate ImpactsAccess to organizedAccess to organizedactivitiesactivitiesParent’s sense of safetys sense of safetyReliance on publicReliance on publicprogramsprogramsAir pollution and otherAir pollution and otherexposuresexposuresNational Wildlife FederationNational Wildlife FederationBe Out There!Be Out There!–public education campaignpublic education campaignGreen HourGreen Hour–parent support programparent support programResearchResearch–Eg. Learning. Learning“readinessreadiness”Nature-find–opportunity locatoropportunity locatorPolicy agendaPolicy agenda–federal and statefederal and stateAgency, NGO and corporate partnershipsAgency, NGO and corporate partnershipsEPA’s Commitment to Childrens Commitment to Children’sHealthToxic exposuresToxic exposuresAir qualityAir qualityWater qualityWater qualityHome, school and playHome, school and playIndoor Air QualityIndoor Air QualityModified definitionModified definitionof the“ambientambientenvironmentenvironment”HomesSchoolsSchoolsDaycareDaycareOutdoor Air QualityOutdoor Air QualityNew challenge to airNew challenge to airsafety messagingsafety messagingAlertsPositive aspects ofPositive aspects offresh airfresh airSolutions: Kids OutdoorsSolutions: Kids OutdoorsGoal: daily green hourGoal: daily green hourBarriersBarriersSafe: OpportunitiesSafe: Opportunities–BackyardsBackyards––Camps–DaycareDaycare–School––PlayspacesPlayspacesPolicy AgendaPolicy Agenda--ExamplesExamplesState NCLI plans toState NCLI plans tocoordinatecoordinate–Parks and recreationParks and recreation–Public healthPublic health––Environmental qualityEnvironmental quality–EducationEducation(NWF policy guide)(NWF policy guide)School wellness plansSchool wellness plansEPA Air Quality and ChildrenEPA Air Quality and Children’sHealth ProtectionHealth ProtectionEducationEducationExpanded indoor airExpanded indoor aireducation toolseducation toolsOutdoor air quality indexOutdoor air quality indextiesNexus of clean air andNexus of clean air andnatural play spacesnatural play spacesInformational support ofInformational support ofstate NCLI plansstate NCLI plansEPA Air Quality and ChildrenEPA Air Quality and Children’sHealth ProtectionHealth ProtectionPolicyProposed federalProposed federallegislation for childrenlegislation for childrenand outdoors state plansand outdoors state plansReinforcement of safeReinforcement of safeAQ for schools &AQ for schools &daycaredaycareSchool antiSchool anti-idlingOther--Thankswww.NWF.org/beouttherewww.NWF.org/beouttherecoylek@nwf.orgcoylek@nwf.org