Quarter of kids never enjoy benefits of outdoor play
20/01/2011 Parents may be encouraged to buy trampolines for the garden, after researchers found that one in four youngsters never take part in outdoor play activities.
The Future Foundation study for Arla Foods questioned 1,000 parents and 500 children on how connected they were with nature and how often they feel the benefits of outdoor play.
According to the parents, the average member of Britain's "indoor generation" spends twice as much of their spare time indoors than exercising outdoors, with play equipment like trampolines for the garden.
TV naturalist Chris Packham, who is backing the food company's Kids Closer to Nature campaign, said: "I don't see boys kicking a football, riding bikes, climbing trees or making dens. When I was at school, I would come home, dump my bag, jump over the fence and ramble until it was way past dark."
Almost three-quarters of parents said that their children appeared happier after enjoying outdoor play activities, while 92 per cent believe that exercising outdoors leads to better overall health.
The Future Foundation study for Arla Foods questioned 1,000 parents and 500 children on how connected they were with nature and how often they feel the benefits of outdoor play.
According to the parents, the average member of Britain's "indoor generation" spends twice as much of their spare time indoors than exercising outdoors, with play equipment like trampolines for the garden.
TV naturalist Chris Packham, who is backing the food company's Kids Closer to Nature campaign, said: "I don't see boys kicking a football, riding bikes, climbing trees or making dens. When I was at school, I would come home, dump my bag, jump over the fence and ramble until it was way past dark."
Almost three-quarters of parents said that their children appeared happier after enjoying outdoor play activities, while 92 per cent believe that exercising outdoors leads to better overall health.
