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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 2011)
Page 8 The INDEPENDENT, October 5, 2011 Report says kids need more sleep by Chris Thomas, Oregon News Service Youngsters in Oregon and around the nation are not get- ting enough sleep, according to a new report that examines the amount of time children spend indoors on electronic devices – and how this over-stimulation affects their sleep. Report author Kevin Coyle, vice president for education and training at the National Wildlife Federation, says a generation ago, children spent hours outdoors playing and in- teracting with others. Today, the average Oregon child or teen spends seven to eight hours per day between com- puters and cell phones, playing video games or watching tele- vision. “This has a number of implications for the kids; their health, their overall fitness lev- els. There are a number of rea- sons why we think that this new ‘indoor child’ phenomenon in American society has really af- fected the ability of children to get a good night's sleep,” stat- ed Coyle. The report indicates that, on average, kids ages 8 through 18 are losing from 10 to 14 hours of sleep per week be- cause they are over-stimulated by electronic use. Coyle says parents can help children ob- tain more balance by making sure they get regular exercise and spend at least an hour a day outdoors, because natural light helps promote sleep. He also suggests trying to get kids to “unplug” from com- puters, cell phones and TVs at least an hour before bedtime – an idea he knows could meet with some resistance, “About half of all the kids in America now have a TV in their bed- room. And the other (rule) is, particularly for older children, to park their cell phones some- where other than in the bed- room, because these kids will often text each other in the middle of the night.” For more tips to prompt chil- dren to spend more time out- side and reduce their “screen time,” a new online guide is available for parents and care- givers, at beoutthere.org. The full report, “Green Time for Sleep Time,” is at nwf.org. Census data has implications for kids Oregon’s working families continue to face a painful strug- gle to provide basic needs like food and health care, new numbers from the census bu- reau show. According to data released by the Census Bureau Septem- ber 13, the poverty rate for both children and families in the United States rose between 2009 and 2010, with 9.2 million families now in poverty. The child poverty rate hit a record high of 22%, a level not seen since 1994. For children under age 6, the poverty rate be- tween 2009 and 2010 in- creased to 25.3 percent from 23.8 percent, while the number in poverty increased to 6.3 mil- lion from 6.0 million nation- wide. “A financially stable family gives children the best chance at a healthy, safe and success- ful life,” says Children First Pol- icy Director, Regan Gray. “These numbers show that now, more than ever, it’s critical that legislators continue to fund programs like Employment Re- lated Day Care and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), which allow parents to find work while providing for their children’s most funda- mental needs.” Children who grow up in poverty suffer higher rates of health, and developmental set- backs than other children. Ac- cording to the non-profit advo- cacy group, Children First for Oregon, children’s physical health, cognitive ability, school achievement, and behavioral and emotional well being suffer as a result of growing up in poverty. With Oregon’s unem- ployment rate still above the national average and SNAP /foodstamp enrollment at an all time high, many families in Oregon are living on the brink. “A small amount of assis- tance with the cost of food, child care, or a doctor’s ap- pointment can protect a fami- ly’s security and all of our chil- dren’s future success,” says Gray. “At the same time, this assistance can prevent costly child-welfare interventions down the road. In this gradual economic recovery, families needs all the help they can get to provide a safe and stable en- vironment for their children. Having these basic needs met allows parents to focus on im- proving their family’s situation, and can help us balance our budget as a state.” More detailed information on the state of Oregon’s children will be released Thursday, Sep- tember 22, when the American Community Survey state-by- state data is made available. Children First is an Oregon nonprofit, nonpartisan child ad- vocacy organization, commit- ted to improving the lives of Oregon’s vulnerable children and their families. More infor- mation on Children First is available at www.cffo.org. Play bingo to help end violence 503-901-1705 It’s true! The Ol’ Pastime Tavern, in Rainier, is partnering with the Columbia County Women’s Resource Center (CCWRC) in our work to end violence. Come out and enjoy bingo every Friday night, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Ol’ Pastime to benefit the work of the Re- source Center. This is also the first event during Domestic Vio- lence Awareness Month, which is observed every year in Octo- ber. All of the fun and prizes are back, so come out for fun and help us work for healthy rela- tionships! CCWRC is the only agency of its kind dedicated to serving survivors of domestic and sex- ual violence in Columbia Coun- ty. Washington County Sheriff’s Office to offer two parenting classes in October The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will offer two free Parent University classes in October: • Bullying and Aggressive Behavior Among School-Aged Children – On October 12, learn about the types of ag- gression that constitute bully- ing, the reasons kids bully, warning signs, the scourge of cyber-bullying, and prevention strategies and solutions that work! • Social Networking – Rais- ing Safe and Responsible Digi- tal Citizens. This class, on Oc- tober 19, offers general infor- mation about technology and the Internet, and explains how youth move seamlessly be- tween their “real” and “online” lives. It will also cover social networking sites, sexting, other risky behaviors, and finally, ways to protect our youth. Classes are held at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Hillsboro in the train- ing center on the second floor. To RSVP, contact Christine Rouches at 503-846-2579 or christine_rouches@co.wash ington.or.us . Columbia County Domestic Abuse Mental Health Hotline 800-294-5211 503-397-6161 ----------------- or Suicide Hotline 866-397-6161 1-800- ----------------- 784-2433 or 1-800-273- TALK(8255) Military Helpline 888-HLP-4-VET (888-457-4838)
