Healthy kids build healthier communities

 

by Dr. Keith Martin MD, Times Colonist - October 21, 2010

 

Monday’s report from Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall, titled “Growing Up in B.C.” should be a wake-up call for our province that more needs to be done to give our children the best start possible in life, especially in rural areas. However, this report is not the first warning. A few weeks ago in a report on our health, Dr. Kendall, highlighted the fact that inactivity and poor diets are driving up health care costs in British Columbia. He estimated that these lifestyle based health concerns will cause a $2 billion annual increase in our health budget. While this number is staggering, perhaps more important is the effect that this will have on our population: increased chronic disease, more illness, and ultimately a shorter life span. The problems identified in these two reports ultimately have the same solution, and it starts with our children.

There is a way to help keep children in school, improve social outcomes, reduce juvenile crime, decrease drug use, improve population health, reduce chronic diseases and ensure that children will become well adjusted, engaged adults. It is the Head Start Program for children. It is quite simple and stunningly effective. Head Start programs focus on bringing parents and children together to ensure that both have knowledge about healthy living including: proper nutrition, physical activity, literacy, and the acquisition of good parenting skills.

It is shocking to learn that some parents do not know that a bag of chips and a can of pop are not a nutritious lunch or breakfast for their child. Unfortunately too many kids are going to school without breakfast and without the nutritious snacks and lunch they need to learn and grow. Part of this is as a result of our economic situation, but it is also a matter of education.

Today, children spend, on average, six hours per day watching a screen (television, computer, and video games). Only 12 per cent of school-age children engage in the 90 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity that is recommended. This must change. Too much time in front of a screen may harm the hard wiring that takes place within a child’s brain. During the early years, the brain’s development is negatively affected by deprivation, poor nutrition, abuse, and possibly to excessive time spent playing computer games and watching TV. The onus on changing this behaviour falls on the parents who should lead by example.

Studies show that active parents are more likely to produce active children while inactive parents are more likely to produce inactive children. Physical activity is also very effective in improving mood (it reduces the incidence of depression) and enables children to focus in school. Children who participate in vigorous, daily physical activity enjoy better grades, are happier, and elicit fewer behavioural problems than their peers.

Literacy is the primary predictor of future employment and income. We have wonderful resources in our communities that both promote literacy and are free to use: our libraries. By making a weekly visit to the community library not only can families spend quality time together, they will also be helping their children to develop the literacy skills they need to be productive adults.

If public policy makers want to get the biggest bang for their buck to make healthy kids and healthy communities, the Head Start Program is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to do it.