- yourlife.usatoday.com/parenting-family/saving-childhood/index
- mediagallery.usatoday.com/Kids In the Valley/G2160
- mediagallery.usatoday.com/Kids get down in the dirt with nature/G2162
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
APRIL 10-APRIL 13, 2011
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
“Saving Childhood” was a week-long series looking at ways that the very nature of childhood is changing: girls are entering early puberty; kids are developing chronic diseases in elementary school that were once seen only in middle age; and, for the first time in history, childhood has moved indoors, with kids spending little to no unsupervised time in nature. This season looks at how and why childhood is changing, and what families and communities can do to help kids enjoy being kids.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
No FOIAs
Explain types of human sources used.
Interviews with families and doctors. Photo galleries and videos, plus consumer-friendly tips boxes.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
no
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
To write these stories, I gathered string for several weeks or months, even while covering my beat. That made it easier to write the series in only a few weeks.