英语翻译Onaverage,Americankidsages3to12spent29hoursaweekinschool,eighthoursmorethantheydidin1981.Theyalsodidmorehouseholdworkandparticipatedinmoreofsuchorganizedactivitiesassoccerandballet(芭蕾舞).Involvem

　　英语翻译

　　Onaverage,Americankidsages3to12spent29hoursaweekinschool,eighthoursmorethantheydidin1981.Theyalsodidmorehouseholdworkandparticipatedinmoreofsuchorganizedactivitiesassoccerandballet(芭蕾舞).Involvementinsport,inparticular,rosealmost50%from1981to1997:boysnowspendanaverageoffourhoursaweekplayingsports;girlsloghalfthattime.Allinall,however,children’sleisuretimedroppedfrom40%ofthedayin1981to25%.

　　“Childrenareaffectedbythesametimecrunch(危机)thataffectstheirparents,”saysSandraHofferth,whoheadedtherecentstudyofchildren’stimetable.Achiefreason,shesays,isthatmoremothersareworkingoutsidethehome.(Nevertheless,childreninbothdouble-incomeand“malebreadwinner”householdsspentcomparableamountsoftimeinteractingwiththeirparents,19hoursand22hoursrespectively.Incontrast,childrenspentonly9hourswiththeirsinglemothers.)

　　Allworkandnoplaycouldmakeforsomeverymessed-upkids.“Playisthemostpowerfulwayachildexplorestheworldandlearnsabouthimself,”saysT.BerryBrazelton,professoratHarvardMedicalSchool.Unstructuredplayencouragesindependentthinkingandallowstheyoungtonegotiatetheirrelationshipswiththeirpeers,butkidsages3to12spentonly12hoursaweekengagedinit.

　　Thechildrensampledspentaquarteroftheirrapidlydecreasing“freetime”watchingtelevision.Butthat,believeitornot,wasoneofthefindingsparentsmightregardasgoodnews.Ifthey’respendinglesstimeinfrontoftheTVset,however,kidsaren’treplacingitwithreading.Despiteeffortstogetkidsmoreinterestedinbooks,thechildrenspentjustoveranhouraweekreading.Let’sfaceit,who’sgotthetime?