A study of 2,000 British parents by outdoors adventure brand Go Ape has found that children this year will spend more of their summer in front of a screen than playing outdoors.
Conducted to mark the launch of new website shareadventure.co.uk, the website aims to inspire people of different ages to adventure with each other.
Finding that the average child will spend at least 2 hours 4 minutes a day staring at a screen during the summer break, this totals 86 hours and 48 minutes throughout the summer holidays that each child will gawk at tablet devices, mobile phones, computer screens or the television.
The research has also revealed that traditional outdoor activities could soon become a thing of the past, as children now prefer spending time playing computer games and watching TV instead.
51% of parents asked said they feel worried that their children are having less traditional play-time experiences, and 82% believe that the current generation are having less physical adventures outside than they did when they were children.
Heading up the Share Adventure campaign with Go Ape is writer and broadcaster Ben Fogle, who's a father to two children.
He said: "I do worry that today's generation of children are at risk of losing their sense of adventure. It is clear from the study by Go Ape that many parents need to do more to encourage their children to play outdoors and be more physically active. The prospect of future generations having no interest in flying a kite or climbing trees is a frightening thought. I hope parents act on this and get their children outside this summer."
The study also found that 77% of parents would prefer their kids to spend more time outside than they currently do, with nearly half (49%) admitting to feeling guilty about their children having too much screen time, with 22% admitting they put their kids in front of TV or games consoles because it's the easy option.
Head of Marketing for Go Ape Paul Lymer added: Our study suggests that parents want their children to take part in more outdoor activities. But many are at a loss when it comes to planning family trips. That's why we've launched our Share Adventure portal that showcases experiences and adventures that Go Ape customers have already undertaken. We hope that we will inspire people of all ages to share adventures with one another, adventures ranging from flying kites on the beach, hunting for bugs in local woodland or a hide and seek in a city park. www.ShareAdventure.co.uk provides adventurous inspiration and ideas available on your own doorstep and there is opportunities to win prizes and Go Ape gear too. We hope by visiting the Share Adventure portal families can be inspired to get in more adventures with each other. Ultimately we hope the website will encourage people to live life more adventurously".
According to the research, the top ten activities which children are missing out on are as follows:
- Traditional outdoor activities such as playing conkers, making daisy chains and playing pooh sticks (49%)
- Building a den (42%)
- Flying kites (41%)
- Climbing trees (37%)
- Fruit picking (33%)
- Skimming stones on a lake (29%)
- Planting their own seeds (26%)
- Playing in open space and woodland (25%)
- Searching for insects (25%)
- Pond dipping/paddling (23%)