Lack of strength costing kids’ dearly

THOUSANDS of Queensland kids are turning up to Prep each year without the core strength to make it through the school day, triggering behavioural and attention problems.

Early childhood teachers and occupational therapists have warned children are increasingly spending far too much time on devices rather than playing outdoors and developing the gross muscle strength they need for a day in the classroom. On Saturday, the Bulletin revealed Coast state students were missing on average 600 days of school every week because of suspension or expulsions.