Recent studies have found that parents in Milton Keynes and across the UK admit to not feeling confident playing outdoors with their children.
A survey conducted by Sudocrem, in which 2,000 UK adults aged 18 to 55 took part, found that parents no longer feel comfortable playing outdoors with their children.
As technology increasingly dominates family entertainment, just 1 in 5 parents in Milton Keynes feel confident playing with their children outdoors, although 71% of children still love outdoor play.
This summer, many parents are opting for indoor activities rather than outdoor ones.
The survey by Sudocrem highlights the key reasons for this. Almost half (44%) of parents across the UK struggle to come up with adventurous and creative outdoor play ideas. 35% of parents admit to often being distracted by technology, and 30% are anxious about their kids getting injured when playing outside.
As a result of this, more parents are now choosing technology and screen time, with 41% turning to video games and almost a third of them using tablets and smartphones during the summer holidays.
Children are expected to spend an average of three hours a day compared to two and a half hours outdoors. Studies show that 93% of parents believe outdoor play is a crucial part in their child(ren)’s development.
Previous generations, also 59% of adults today remember loving to play outdoors as a child, however, 75% of children today prefer video games over playing outdoors.
45% of parents admit they spend less than an hour a day playing with their children. 59% spend less than an hour on outdoor activities. Only 2% of parents say they don’t get any outdoor playtime with their kids at all.
An overwhelming 93% of parents still believe in the importance of outdoor play, recognising its power to boost both physical and mental development. Even more encouragingly, 89% are eager to carve out more time for outdoor adventures, knowing how much their kids love it.
