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| Screen-based lifestyle harms children’s health | |
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| A decade ago our first multiple-signatory “toxic childhood” press letter described how children’s health and wellbeing were being undermined by the decline of outdoor play, increasingly screen-based lifestyles, a hyper-competitive schooling system and the unremitting commercialisation of childhood. | A decade ago our first multiple-signatory “toxic childhood” press letter described how children’s health and wellbeing were being undermined by the decline of outdoor play, increasingly screen-based lifestyles, a hyper-competitive schooling system and the unremitting commercialisation of childhood. |
| Despite widespread public concern, subsequent policymaking has been half-hearted, short-termist and disjointedly ineffective. The above factors continue to affect children adversely, with “school and cool” displacing active, self-directed play at an ever-earlier age. Physical health problems like obesity continue to escalate, and mental health problems among children and young people are approaching crisis levels. As well as the intense distress caused to families, there are obviously longer-term social and economic consequences for society as a whole. | Despite widespread public concern, subsequent policymaking has been half-hearted, short-termist and disjointedly ineffective. The above factors continue to affect children adversely, with “school and cool” displacing active, self-directed play at an ever-earlier age. Physical health problems like obesity continue to escalate, and mental health problems among children and young people are approaching crisis levels. As well as the intense distress caused to families, there are obviously longer-term social and economic consequences for society as a whole. |
| If children are to develop the self-regulation and emotional resilience required to thrive in modern technological culture, they need unhurried engagement with caring adults and plenty of self-directed outdoor play, especially during their early years (0–7). We therefore urge the government to take immediate action, including: | If children are to develop the self-regulation and emotional resilience required to thrive in modern technological culture, they need unhurried engagement with caring adults and plenty of self-directed outdoor play, especially during their early years (0–7). We therefore urge the government to take immediate action, including: |
| • The development of a coherent, well-funded approach to care and education from pre-birth to age seven, including a kindergarten stage for three- to seven-year-olds emphasising social and emotional development and outdoor play. | • The development of a coherent, well-funded approach to care and education from pre-birth to age seven, including a kindergarten stage for three- to seven-year-olds emphasising social and emotional development and outdoor play. |
| • National guidelines on screen-based technology for children up to the age of 12, produced by recognised authorities in child health and development. | • National guidelines on screen-based technology for children up to the age of 12, produced by recognised authorities in child health and development. |
| We also recommend the appointment of a cabinet-level minister for children, remaining in post for a full parliament, whose department audits all government policies for their impact on children’s health and wellbeing; or as an absolute minimum, the setting up of a non-party-political standing conference on children’s health and wellbeing, meeting and reporting regularly to parliament. | We also recommend the appointment of a cabinet-level minister for children, remaining in post for a full parliament, whose department audits all government policies for their impact on children’s health and wellbeing; or as an absolute minimum, the setting up of a non-party-political standing conference on children’s health and wellbeing, meeting and reporting regularly to parliament. |
| Without concerted action, our children’s physical and mental health will continue to deteriorate, with long-term results for UK society that are frankly unthinkable. | Without concerted action, our children’s physical and mental health will continue to deteriorate, with long-term results for UK society that are frankly unthinkable. |
| Sue Palmer Author of Toxic Childhood and chair of Upstart ScotlandDr Richard House Educational consultant, editor of Too Much, Too Soon?Dr Sharie Coombes Child and family psychotherapist; former primary headteacherDr Robin Alexander Emeritus professor of education, chair of the Cambridge Primary Review TrustProfessor Lord Layard Director, Wellbeing Programme, Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics & Political ScienceBaroness Susan Greenfield Research NeuroscientistRowan Williams Magdalene College, CambridgePhilip Pullman WriterNaomi EisenstadtTim BrighouseRichard Bowlby Attachment theory tutorChristopher Ball Former chair of Wave Trust, author of Start Right: Importance of Early LearningAnthony Seldon Author and vice-chancellor of University of BuckinghamJonathon Porritt Founder director, Forum for the Future Susie OrbachOliver James Chartered psychologist, relational psychotherapistKevin Courtney General secretary, National Union of Teachers Neil Leitch CEO, Pre-school Learning AllianceTheresa Casey President, International Play AssociationGareth Wyn Davies CEO, Forest School AssociationPenelope Leach Hon senior research fellow, Tavistock & Portman NHS TrustNeil Roskilley CEO, Independent Schools AssociationProfessor Emerita Janet Moyles Early childhood education and play consultantProfessor Guy Claxton Emeritus professor of the learning sciences, author of Building Learning PowerProfessor Pat Preedy Movement for Learning project, Loughborough UniversityProfessor Richard Pring Former director, Department of Education, University of OxfordSami Timimi Professor of child psychiatry and mental health improvement, University of LincolnColwyn Trevarthen Professor (emeritus) of child psychology and psychobiology, University of EdinburghWendy Ellyatt CEO, Save Childhood MovementNatasha Devon Campaigner, former government mental health champion and co-founder of the Self-Esteem TeamProfessor Steve Biddulph Psychologist and author Professor Jayne Osgood Middlesex UniversityDr Sue Gerhardt Author of Why Love MattersWendy Scott Former DfE adviserAndrew Samuels Professor of analytical psychology, University of Essex; former chair, UK Council for PsychotherapyProfessor Del Loewenthal Director, Research Centre for Therapeutic Education, University of RoehamptonProfessor Karin Lesnik-Oberstein Director of the Graduate Centre for International Research in Childhood: Literature, Culture, MediaAnne Alvarez Consultant child and adolescent psychotherapistDr Graham Music Consultant child and adolescent psychotherapist, Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation TrustDr David Whitebread Homerton College, University of Cambridge | Sue Palmer Author of Toxic Childhood and chair of Upstart ScotlandDr Richard House Educational consultant, editor of Too Much, Too Soon?Dr Sharie Coombes Child and family psychotherapist; former primary headteacherDr Robin Alexander Emeritus professor of education, chair of the Cambridge Primary Review TrustProfessor Lord Layard Director, Wellbeing Programme, Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics & Political ScienceBaroness Susan Greenfield Research NeuroscientistRowan Williams Magdalene College, CambridgePhilip Pullman WriterNaomi EisenstadtTim BrighouseRichard Bowlby Attachment theory tutorChristopher Ball Former chair of Wave Trust, author of Start Right: Importance of Early LearningAnthony Seldon Author and vice-chancellor of University of BuckinghamJonathon Porritt Founder director, Forum for the Future Susie OrbachOliver James Chartered psychologist, relational psychotherapistKevin Courtney General secretary, National Union of Teachers Neil Leitch CEO, Pre-school Learning AllianceTheresa Casey President, International Play AssociationGareth Wyn Davies CEO, Forest School AssociationPenelope Leach Hon senior research fellow, Tavistock & Portman NHS TrustNeil Roskilley CEO, Independent Schools AssociationProfessor Emerita Janet Moyles Early childhood education and play consultantProfessor Guy Claxton Emeritus professor of the learning sciences, author of Building Learning PowerProfessor Pat Preedy Movement for Learning project, Loughborough UniversityProfessor Richard Pring Former director, Department of Education, University of OxfordSami Timimi Professor of child psychiatry and mental health improvement, University of LincolnColwyn Trevarthen Professor (emeritus) of child psychology and psychobiology, University of EdinburghWendy Ellyatt CEO, Save Childhood MovementNatasha Devon Campaigner, former government mental health champion and co-founder of the Self-Esteem TeamProfessor Steve Biddulph Psychologist and author Professor Jayne Osgood Middlesex UniversityDr Sue Gerhardt Author of Why Love MattersWendy Scott Former DfE adviserAndrew Samuels Professor of analytical psychology, University of Essex; former chair, UK Council for PsychotherapyProfessor Del Loewenthal Director, Research Centre for Therapeutic Education, University of RoehamptonProfessor Karin Lesnik-Oberstein Director of the Graduate Centre for International Research in Childhood: Literature, Culture, MediaAnne Alvarez Consultant child and adolescent psychotherapistDr Graham Music Consultant child and adolescent psychotherapist, Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation TrustDr David Whitebread Homerton College, University of Cambridge |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |