I spent a large part of my youth both playing outside and an equally large part glued to the TV and Atari (remember that?) and reading Archie comic books. I would have eaten Little Debbie snack cakes and other assorted crap three meals a day if it had been my choice. I never became overweight as a result or even remotely approached it during my life (I am 5'8" and weigh 170 on a heavy day with my pockets filled with loose change). I feel I am fairly intelligent and analytical and have been able to start up and build my HI business on my own with with no prior experience in running a business.

My 4 1/2 year old son would watch TV all day if we let him and he does watch more than I like some days. But other days, aside from him watching some cartoons in the morning before school, the TV never comes on the rest of the day and he is wrapped up in his toys, books, or playing games with my wife and I. For 4 1/2, he's ridiculously smart and will likely grow up to make his parents look slow and unwitting by comparison.

Every generation is different and grows up with different things. It is up to parents to put a cap on mindless sedantary activities and engage their kids in something more meaningful. I'm sure our parents said the same things about the stuff all of us had growing up that they didn't have as kids and thought the world was goijng to hell in a handbasket.