New research has found children spend less than four hours a week exercising outside of school, but a combined 14 hours on devices.
British kids are ditching the great outdoors for the lure of the screen, with startling new figures showing they clock less than four hours of outdoor exercise a week outside school – yet rack up a whopping 14 hours on tech gadgets.
A survey of 2,000 parents with children aged six to 17 revealed that youngsters spend an average of five and a half hours a week glued to the telly, five hours lost in video games, and over four hours buried in social media feeds.
In stark contrast, they dedicate just three and a half hours to reading books .This could be down to the fact nearly four out of 10 parents (38%) reported that their children view gaming as a form of exercise.
A hefty 69% of mums and dads confess it’s tough to push their kids to be active, with more than half having to dangle rewards or offer incentives to get them moving. This could be down to the fact nearly four out of 10 parents (38%) reported that their children view gaming as a form of exercise.
Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas has teamed up with his son Ethan and AXA Health to champion family health through a series of strength and coordination trials as two-thirds of parents reckon their own fitness routines rub off on their kids.
Simon said: “From the moment they’re born, our kids are mimicking and learning from what we do. One of the big challenges now is being intentional with our time and setting a positive example.”
“When it comes to exercise, you’ve got to practice what you preach as a parent. Ethan and I run together two or three times a week – it’s a great bonding experience,” highlighting the importance of setting an active example for kids.
Dr. John Burke, chief medical officer at AXA Health, also emphasised the crucial role of physical activity in children’s development: “Beyond physical benefits like improved strength and endurance, outdoor play boosts social skills, cognitive growth, and even sleep quality.”
He pointed out that when kids spend more time outside, parents notice significant improvements – 41% say their children sleep better, while 33% observe a boost in their overall positivity.
Dr. Burke further commented on the necessity of encouraging children to engage in physical activities in our tech-dominated era, explaining it is now more important than ever to get outside.
“Simple steps like trying new activities as a family or inviting friends along can make a huge difference,” he said. “Making it fun and following their interests is the key to building a habit of exercise.”
