Turn Off the Screens, Turn on the Sun!
May 24, 2022, Turn Off the Screens, Turn on the Sun!
After months of winter frost and chilly spring, we all want to head outside for the summer. But sometimes even the heat and the sunshine aren’t enough to disconnect some kids from their devices. “It’s normal for kids to gravitate toward the games or social media on their phones or tablets after a long winter indoors and over two years of a pandemic,” says Shawn Bartel, MD, pediatrician at Huron Regional Medical Center. “But it’s a good thing for the entire family to go outside and leave the screens at home.”
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Shawn Bartel, MD, board-certified internal medicine physician and pediatrician
Vitamin D Builds Healthy Bones
One important reason to get kids outside is that sunshine helps their bodies produce vitamin D. Although vitamin D is found in some foods like salmon, eggs, and milk, spending time in sunlight is the best way to help ensure it is absorbed by the body. “Vitamin D is necessary for the body to absorb calcium,” Dr. Bartel says. “Going outside for even just 30 minutes can help your children build stronger bones. But don’t forget the sunscreen!”
Dr. Bartel and the rest of the family medicine team at the HRMC Physicians Clinic can help you keep your kids healthy. Make an appointment by calling 605-353-7660 or make an appointment online.