Park Vandalism
Park vandalism is destroying the community. Therefore protecting the parks should be a priority. Playing in the park is essential to the growth of children but parks with vandalism are not going to attract the families who need them.
Obesity is one of the major leading causes of death in the U.S. And even if it doesn’t lead directly to death, being overweight has multiple and very serious long-term consequences. Among them are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes. Genetics plays a role in obesity, but lifestyle is a strong contributing factor.
Instead of playing outside and going to parks to play because the park is riddled with vandalism, children have fallen back on technology for entertainment. Sadly, this leads to obesity and other health related issues. According to HealthyChildren.org, these are the benefits of playing outside:
- Physically healthier. Children play harder outdoors than indoors and they need daily opportunities to do so. More outdoor time is linked with improved motor development and lower obesity rates and myopia (nearsightedness) risk. Safely getting some sun also helps us make vitamin D that our bodies need to stay healthy and strong.
- More engaged in learning. Playing outside promotes curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. Studies have found that children who spent more time in nature exploration had improved learning outcomes.
- More positive in behavior. Research shows that when children spent time in natural settings they had less anger and aggression. Impulse control also improves. This might be especially important when normal routines change for children.
- Mentally healthier. Stress and depression are lower for all people who spend time in nature. Children show increased focus and reduced symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Parks are essential for the health of children. Where adults rely on a scheduled exercise regimen for fitness, children simply rely on having fun. Children likely burn more calories playing hide-and-seek at a playground after school than adults do in a workout class.
When playgrounds are destroyed by vandalism, they become unusable to children, who have a higher risk of obesity. Cities must protect their parks from vandalism so that children can remain safe and healthy. Cities can fight against vandalism by investing in Park Vandalism Deterrent Systems, which are specifically designed to stop vandalism before it happens. When vandalism is prevented, parks can be preserved, and children can enjoy playing at the park and maintaining their physical health.
#stopvandalism #novandalism #protectparks