What do kids want to do more of after school?

In the Tri-Cities, 9 out of 10 youth have their own cell phones. Those who don’t are more likely to sleep 8 hours a day—and to experience better mental health than their phone-wielding peers. These and other findings were shared at the Know 2 Grow Research Forum, partially funded by United Way British Columbia, yesterday. Co-hosted by the  Tri-Cities Early Childhood Development, Middle Childhood Matters, and Youth Committees, the Forum provided a snapshot of kids in the Tri-Cities from 0-19 years of age. What emerged is a picture with both highlights and shadows. Some notable findings:

• When asked what is the top after-school activity they wish they could be doing, the majority of kids in grade 4 and grade 7 chose the same thing: physical and/or outdoor activities. Being “too busy” was the top reason for not participating in desired after-school activities.
• Approximately 4 out of 5 youth admitted that they were online or on the phone after their parents thought they were asleep.
• Sleep is directly linked to mental health: students between grades 7 and 12 who slept 9 hours or more tended to rate their mental health as good or excellent
• More youth report feeling safe in all areas of their school compared to results from a 2008 survey; at the same time, there has been no improvement in bullying.
• Kindergarten kids are doing well in terms of language and cognitive development—a domain measured by the Early Development Instrument. But more kids are vulnerable when it comes to social competence and emotional maturity—two other domains that the EDI tracks.

The Forum also revealed what kind of factors help kids to make better choices, and foster a sense of health and well-being. These “protective factors” include:

• School connectedness
• Positive family relationships
• Caring adults outside the family
• Someone to turn to for help
• 3 or more close friends
• Good nutrition
• Feeling engaged and valued
• And (of course) getting 8 or more hours of sleep each night

  United Way British Columbia strengthens the capacity of social service agencies and engages community leaders, advocates, and practitioners to best plan for the well-being of children and youth in the Lower Mainland. Our goal is to help kids be all that they can be.