Kids these days are often criticized for being couch potatoes. Everything from television to video games is blamed for this. However, a recent study has shown that the real culprit limiting children's outdoor time is parents!

About 80% of children who were surveyed said they would rather be playing outside, but around 50% of parents or caregivers won't let them leave the house or yard. In fact, only about a third will allow children to go as far as the end of the street. Although these same parents grew up with significantly less supervision, concern for their children's safety motivates them to keep a much closer eye on their children than their parents kept on them. Consequently, it is becoming increasingly rare to see kids playing outside after school and in the summer. And at the same time, problems like obesity and diabetes are on the rise.

The study concludes that parents need to be provided with the tools and confidence to allow their children more freedom to play outside, otherwise children will become more and more housebound.

I. Word List

couch potatoes: people who are lazy and inactive

culprit: the one who is guilty

housebound: only staying in the house

II. Answer the following questions.

1. Why are kids often criticized for being couch potatoes?

___________________________________________________________.

2. Who is to blame for kids being inactive nowadays?

___________________________________________________________.

3. What do you think is a solution to this problem?

___________________________________________________________.

4. Would you rather play indoors or outdoors? Why?

___________________________________________________________.

5. Do you think children will become more or less housebound in the future? Why?

___________________________________________________________.

III. What's the word? Using the clues, write the correct words from the reading.

1. people who take care of children - c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

2. not common - r _ _ _

3. being too fat - o _ _ _ _ _ _

4. doing what you want - f _ _ _ _ _ _

5. people watching children - s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

IV. True, False, or Not Given—Read these sentences carefully. Write T (true), F (false) or NG (not given) for each.

___ 1. Children are generally more housebound than they used to be.

___ 2. A study shows that most children prefer playing indoors.

___ 3. Parents are often the problem when children are house-bound.

___ 4. Most parents worry about their children too much.

___ 5. Children need more exercise than adults.