Neighborhood walkability as a remedy for childhood anxiety

Land use policy is putting your kids at risk.

I am, perhaps like you, an opinionated parent. I want what’s best for my own kids, but I also want children in general to thrive. Temper tantrums aren’t typically my thing, but researching unhealthy infrastructure keeps putting rage-worthy studies on my screen. 

The US is experiencing a surge in diagnosed anxiety that isn’t calming down. Americans and their kids are more anxious than ever.

@jon haidt is writing a book about why Gen Z’s anxiety is skyrocketing. He said his primary prescription is: 

1. more unsupervised time to play and explore in order to learn to become self-governing, and

2. less and later access to social media and the screen-based life.

Although the built environment isn’t Haidt’s focus, walkable neighborhoods are basically a pharmacy for his recommended prescription. Parents would be much more willing to stop helicoptering over the children and give them more freedom in neighborhoods that support unsupervised play and exploration.  

The sedentary lifestyle is prevalent in modern society and it contributes to childhood anxiety. A significant percentage of children are driven to school instead of walking or bicycling. According to the CDC, that type of routine not only impacts their physical health but also contributes to anxiety-related issues. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that up to 80% of children with diagnosable anxiety disorders are not receiving the necessary treatment.

Walkable (and playable!) neighborhoods are necessary treatment. 

Physical activity among children is dropping at an alarming rate in the US, and local governments share part of the blame. Land use policy delivered arterials the size of highways through American neighborhoods.

Walkable neighborhoods empower children with a sense of control over their environment. For a bunch of reasons, it brings a heightened agency that protects against anxiety. The burbs can be walkable—this isn’t about squishing everyone into city skyscrapers to check the density box. In fact, cramming people into tight spaces without any elbow room or access to nature is also a recipe for anxiety. 

In any zip code, in any size community, our brains function best when our bodies get regular walks. So much so that it can replace prescription medications. There’s been a lot of scientific research about this stuff and several books, which is why it’s a little baffling to me that a major expose documentary hasn’t been produced. (At least not that I’ve been able to find.) 

The crowdfunding campaign for my unhealthy infrastructure film ends June 30. If you want to pledge support, here’s the link: https://seedandspark.com/fund/white-collar-epidemic