Here’s the big twist though: a little outdoor time isn’t going to solve the problem—at least not if that time is spent under surveillance. A recent Psychology Today story highlighted the independence, adventurous spirit, risk-taking and sense of control that children get from unstructured play as important for building healthy adults. It’s also, the study says, what’s missing from a growing number of unhealthy childhoods.

The article’s author Dr. Peter Gray pointed to a San Diego State University study authored by Dr. Jean Twenge that tested for a sense of control among participants and compared it to the past few decades. Kids who have a sense of control “are more likely to get good jobs that they enjoy, take care of their health, and play active roles in their communities—and they are less likely to become anxious or depressed.”

What they found was a severe shift from one side of the scale to the other.