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Culture Watch Isolation and Sedentariness of Brazils Metropolitan Children: Christian Communities Connecting Families to Physical Activities Outdoors

By David Dawson

Fuller Theological Seminary MP520 Transforming Contemporary Culture Dr. Eileen Suico Winter 2014

Table of Contents
Introduction.......................................................................................................................3 Article 1.............................................................................................................................4 Article 2 & 3......................................................................................................................5 Article 4.............................................................................................................................7 Article 5.............................................................................................................................8 Article 6.............................................................................................................................9 Conclusion......................................................................................................................10

Introduction
! The purpose of this paper is to address the isolated, sedentary, media saturated

lives of children in metropolitan centers of Brazil. The current situation causes these children serious physical and psychological problems. Brazilian children watch an average of 5 hours of television per day 1. Children need a minimum of 90 minutes of physical activity per day, far more than most get in Brazil2. The most recent national census showed 160 million living in urban centers compared to only 30 million rural dwellers3. This means that the situation in the large cities of Brazil is the condition of the majority of Brazilians. My wife, three children and I life in the southern state of Paran where 83% of children age 0 to 19 reside in metropolitan areas 4. We live in the capital city of Curitiba, population 3.5 million, which is only the eighth largest of fty major cities in the country. ! My motivation for researching this topic comes from my own challenges as a

father in metropolitan Brazil. The responsibility to provide children with opportunities for physical play falls primarily upon parents. In my own experience as a parent there are three primary factors to providing the physical outdoor play children need: time, context and activity. Contemporary articles demonstrate that the lifestyle of families in the

Pereira, Lais Fontenelle, Que Infncia Estamos Construindo, http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/opiniao/ fz1210200709.htm


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Moya, Patrcia et al., Falta de Atividade Fsicas Compromete Desenvolvimento Infantil, http:// www.metodista.br/rronline/noticias/saude/pasta-3/falta-de-atividades-sicas-! comprometedesenvolvimento-infantil
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IBGE, Charactersticas da Populao, http://7a12.ibge.gov.br/vamos-conhecer-o-brasil/nosso-povo/ caracteristicas-da-populacao


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Infncia, adolescncia e direitos : livro de dados do Paran / Rede Marista de Solidariedade. Curitiba : Champagnat, 2013, http://www.crianca.mppr.mp.br/arquivos/File/ publi/marista/livro_de_dados_do_parana_2013.pdf 3

metropolitan centers of Brazil lacks the time, physical location and options of activities needed to combat the problem of child sedentariness and social isolation. ! ! Article 1 Simes de Oliveira, Cludia, Falta de espaos pblicos inuencia desenvolvimento da criana (The Inuence of the Lack of Public Space on the Development of Children), Aprendiz, January 21, 2003, http://www2.uol.com.br/aprendiz/n_noticias/academia/ id210103.htm (Accessed on February 24, 2014) Synopsis: ! In this article a Brazilian architect and urbanist analyzes children's use of public

spaces in metropolitan areas. The majority of these children are living segregated lives within the connes of apartment buildings. The outside world is experienced mostly in impersonal commercial locations which do not encourage social interaction. The one context where children do interact with others is at school. However, for the most part school is a organized and regimented environment in which children still feel conned. Children who live within a xed trajectory between apartment, school and shopping mall lack opportunities to learn to comprehend the lifestyles of others. Ironically poorer children in public schools testied to enjoying more liberty of space than those attending private schools. The rst group complained more about violence while the second complained more about isolation and lack of freedom to play outside. The proposed solution of a Brazilian architect is the development of public spaces. These must be freely accessible by all economic categories of society and be free of marketing schemes and commerce.

Missiological Analysis: ! This situation perpetuates prejudice and supercial understanding of the differing

ethnicities, religions and socioeconomic conditions present in contemporary urban centers. The need for children to engage in physical outdoor activities isnt limited to health benets. Evangelism will be come much more difcult if the emerging generation of metropolitan children doesnt learn to engage in civic life. Christian communities often see urban missions as pertaining primarily do dealing with seemingly more dramatic issues such as homelessness, prostitution, substance abuse and violence. Churches must also seek preventative measures against the cauldron of urban decay. Why not address the environment the children of our cities are raised in, which is socially and physically retarding, moreover corrupting. Church projects assisting poorer demographics in the city have a more dramatic appeal. However the theme of this paper affects children of all socioeconomic categories.

Article 2 & 3 Pereira, Las Fontenelle, A cidade dos carros e a das crianas (The City of Cars and Children), Revista Forum, February 7, 2014, http://revistaforum.com.br/blog/2014/02/acidade-dos-carros-e-a-das-criancas/http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/opiniao/ fz1210200709.htm (Accessed on February 24, 2014)

Synopsis: ! Written by a Brazilian psychologist, these two articles also deal with the conned,

media saturated infancy of most Brazilian children. Outdoor physical play is where

children learn to socialize and exercise their citizenship and autonomous will. Even during summer vacation months most of these childrens time is spent interacting with digital media. Public parks need better maintenance, security and should not be used for privately sponsored consumer driven events aimed at children. Both articles advocate block party events where streets in particularly dense urban areas can be closed off for child-friendly space and activities.

Missiological Analysis: ! The Biblical narrative begins in a garden followed by the height of human

rebellion in the planets rst city. However in Revelation we see that redemptions ultimate fulllment will be a glorious city with a garden in the middle. With this in mind in addition to the global trend toward urbanization5 contributing to the ourishing of humanity in cities should be part of the Churchs mission. Christian communities are called to be The light of the world. A city on a hill6. By creating the type of events this article recommends local churches can be an incarnation of Christs present and future Kingdom. By participating and collaborating with these types of events local churches represent the compassion or Christ for urban children living in connement.

As of 2010, more than half of all people live in an urban area. By 2030, 6 out of every 10 people will live in a city (World Health Organizaion, 2014, Global Health Observatory: Urban Population Growth, http:// www.who.int/gho/urban_health/situation_trends/urban_population_growth_text/en/ (Accessed February 28, 2014).
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The Holy Bible, New International Version, 1984, International Bible Society, Mat. 5:14 6

Article 4 Araujo, Carlos, Crianas Brincam Cada Vez Mais Sozinhas..., Vya Estelar-Qualidade de Vida na Web, http://www2.uol.com.br/vyaestelar/brincar.htm (Accessed 02/24/2014).

Synopsis: ! The author of this article is a Brazilian psychologist specializing in psychotherapy

of children and adolescents. This article states that changes in childrens lifestyles have led to exaggerated introversion. Back yards have disappeared as apartments have become the most common family dwelling. Older apartment complexes provided children with common spaces large enough for them to play with their neighbors and really feel like they were outdoors. But the compression of space in contemporary cities has caused architects to squeeze these common spaces or omit them completely. Children tend to play by virtual means such as video games instead of using tangible objects or interacting with other children. This article proposes that, whether they are parents or not, engaging in outdoor physical activities with children should be seen as a type of public service. Adults who themselves live conned sedentary lives will obviously benet from this interaction as well.

Missiological Analysis: ! Christian communities as well as individual believers should consider inuencing

urban planning as a practical way to demonstrate the values of Christs Kingdom. Christian architects and engineers can use their professions to serve the children of their cities. Volunteer service programs could be developed by local churches which

offer adult supervision for outdoor play times at existing spaces such as parks and city squares. Article 5 Moya, Patricia et al., Falta de Atividades Fsicas Compromete Desenvolvimento Infantil (Lack of Physical Activity Impedes Child Development), Rudge Ramos Online, April 14, 2008, http://www.metodista.br/rronline/noticias/saude/pasta-3/falta-deatividades-sicas-compromete-desenvolvimento-infantil (Accessed February 25, 2014)

Synopsis: ! This article comes out the Methodist University of Sao Paulo. Some of the

conventional wisdom on combating sedentary lifestyles in children is challenged here. The article singles out parents as having primary responsibility for ensuring that their children have daily access to physical activities. The importance of specic types of outdoor play space isnt emphasized here. The author states that the ubiquitous metropolitan squares and less numerous parks provide sufcient space. What is emphasized here is the importance of spontaneity and autonomous creativity in childrens play time. Organized sporting activities can be too constricting and regimented. On the other hand the article recommends having a routine for weekly play times. Routines for other physical activities are also suggested, such as walking to and from daily destinations.

Missiological Analysis:

The greatest contribution of this article to this papers theme are the suggestions

regarding balancing routine and spontaneity. This seems intuitively true from my experience as a father. The sheer difculty for parents to separate time for playing outside with their children requires a planned routine. On the other hand, the best times of outside play Ive witnessed have been when children are turned loose to be creative. Christian communities where parents demonstrate this type of intentional investment in their childrens well-being also demonstrate the values of Christs Kingdom. Jesus made time for children when others felt that His time was better used for adult pursuits, i.e., themselves7 .

Article 6 Lima, Christiane, Tempo Para os Filhos : Qualidade ou Quantidade ? (Time With Children: Quality or Quantity?), Elo Internet, http://elo.com.br/portal/colunistas/ver/ 220371/tempo-para-os-lhos--qualidade-ou-quantidade-.html (Accessed February 24, 2014)

Synopsis: ! The author of this article is a Brazilian child psychologist and social worker. The

article answers the question whether parents need to spend a certain quantity of of time with their children, or if the quality of that time spent is the more important matter. It is stated that parents generally underestimate the time investment required for a healthy and satisfying relationship with their children. The observation is made that children

Mat. 19:14 NIV 9

themselves often have such a full schedule of activities that they have no time to spend with parents. If both parents have to work full time then children are in school from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Children whose parents have higher earnings often ll their schedules with extracurricular activities. The feeling of guilt parents feel about not spending time with their children causes them to not give them boundaries and discipline. Many parents give material things instead of what is most needed: time.

Missiological Analysis: ! If quantity of time trumps quality of time in parent-child relationships in general,

this has implications for addressing the problems of sedentariness and isolation. Instead of feeling obligated to come up with elaborate outdoor physical activities, parents can begin with the simple goal of spending time with their children. The commentary on how parents tend to channel the guilt which results from not spending time with their children is also relevant to promoting a more active childhood. Parents should face their feelings of guilt and channel them towards long-term investments in their childrens livelihood. Substituting healthy outdoor play times with toys and digital entertainment is a stop-gap way to address needs which, if left unmet, will produce socially and physically undeveloped children.

Conclusion
! My thesis states that through social media networks Christian communities in

Brazil can prevent the isolation and sedentariness of metropolitan children, bless the families of their own members and share the gospel with non-Christian families. Using

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ubiquitous social media networks these churches can provide parents with information on times, locations and activities to combat the psychological, physical, mental and spiritual problems urban children are facing. ! This is an opportunity for local churches in Brazil - the vast majority of which are

located in densely urban areas - to address an issue which affects the society as a whole. Helping families nd the times, contexts and activities for healthy outdoor play is a way for Christian communities to demonstrate a practical outlet for their spirituality. ! Another benet of this approach is that its logistical simplicity. The large Brazilian

cities vary in the amount of public space provided for children to play in. My research shows that governmental and private organizations are developing innovative approaches to meeting the need for child-friendly public spaces. Unfortunately in metropolitan Brazil it hasn't been a case of if you build it they will come. I, for example, live in Curitiba which is considered to be the cultural and ecological capital of the country. Curitiba has more public space for children to play than any other large city in Brazil. However, my experience living here over the past 12 has been that across the board - from wealthy families to poor - children spend most of their time indoors interacting with digital media. ! What's missing? I propose that families can nd the solution to isolation and

sedentariness in relationship and partnership with each other. Today every type of organization or endeavor uses social media networks. Local churches in Brazil are in a strategic position to develop a network working against the isolation and sedentariness of metropolitan children. I believe this is an opportunity local churches should consider in prayer and be open to engaging in.

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