The state’s children need more play and sports – especially in the interior, Central Valley – Daily News

INGLEWOOD — A national report found that nearly two-thirds of school-age children, particularly in the Central Valley, the Inland Empire and far northern California, are not meeting federal guidelines for physical activity, officials announced Friday.

During a Senate Education Committee hearing Friday morning at SoFi Stadium, the LA84 Foundation released the results of its 2024 California Play Equity Report, a study of statewide play equity, youth participation and physical activity. National research firm EVITARUS collected data for the report.

The report aims to create a new foundation for play equity, a concept that ensures all children have access to play and physical activity regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, zip code or socioeconomic status, according to the LA84 Foundation.

According to the report, California’s youth are not getting enough exercise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend that teens ages 6 to 17 get at least 60 minutes of exercise every day, but more than two-thirds of children, about 66%, participate in sports or other activities .

Nearly 10% of California youth are “never active.” Less than two in five, about 39%, of children participate in physical education classes at school every day, the report said. About 58% of parents surveyed did not know that physical education in schools is not fully funded.

Physical activity levels are lowest among Latina and Black/African American girls, as well as Latino youth overall and children with disabilities. Youth with annual household incomes of $50,000 or less and those in the Inland Empire also face similar challenges.

In the last two years, about a third of young people refused to participate in sports because the cost of participation was not right. Some children showed no interest and others may not have had the time.

Parents who took part in the study say finances can be a barrier to keeping their children involved in sports. Nearly two-thirds, or about 63%, of parents said they had difficulty paying for costs associated with sports, such as equipment, uniforms and other items.

“Sport, games and exercise are essential for a child’s physical, emotional, social and academic development. Differences in access to gaming can perpetuate and exacerbate existing inequalities,” Renata Simril, president and CEO of the LA84 Foundation, said in a statement.

“The 2024 Play Equity Report expands on the research the LA84 Foundation has been conducting in LA County since 2016,” Simril added. “It is a roadmap that allows us to track nationwide progress in play and exercise now and in the future.”

While there remain challenges in increasing young people’s participation in sport and physical activity, the report highlights two key findings to achieve this.

Organized sports and structured play can increase the level of regular exercise in children. According to the report, teens who exercise daily or those who participate in at least one organized sport are more likely to exercise five times a week or more.

Additionally, study participants expressed strong support for elected officials and the state to invest in more opportunities for sports and other physical activities.

“This report reminds us how important play and exercise are to our children’s overall development. Combined with education, play, sports and physical activity, they all play a critical role in supporting their physical, social and emotional growth,” said state Sen. Josh Newman, D-Fullerton, in a statement.

Last year, Newman authored Senate Bill 291 to ensure a uniform standard for recess across all California schools.

“The benefits of unstructured gaming and peer-to-peer social interactions that provide respite are more important now than ever,” Newman added.

Simril noted that with global sporting events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Southern California, the state should seize the economic opportunity to support youth sports and physical activities.

Originally published: September 27, 2024 at 5:28 p.m