3 in 10 Toddlers Are Spending Less Than 3 hours Outside PER WEEK

A recent study, by Kiddi Caru, asked UK parents about the amount of outdoor time their child gets, weather permitting, 31% said they get 3 hours or less weekly outdoor time, in spite of 100% of respondents agreeing that outdoor time is crucial to a child’s development.

This is surprisingly little considering the same percentage (31%) get 2-3 hours of screen time per day, with 11% getting over 4 hours daily. If spread out evenly over the week this works out to be only 25 minutes per day.

According to the NHS physical activity guidelines for under 5s, toddlers should be physically active for at least 3 hours per day. And although this includes indoor play, it can be assumed that, for some, indoor time is being monopolised by screens.

When given a list of outdoor activities it was revealed 44% of toddlers have never held a bug, 36% haven’t collected sticks, 35% have yet to dig in mud and 30% haven’t fed ducks.

These figures could suggest the next generation are at risk of losing touch with nature and wildlife, which is concerning in a time where conservation and being environmentally conscious is crucial.

Is Screen Time To Blame?

New guidelines from the World Health Organization has revealed that children under 5 should not get very much exposure to screens and those under 1 should have none at all. The data from Kiddi Caru revealed this is not the case.

Despite 93% of UK parents believing toddlers and young children are spending too much time on screens, 31% of children aged 2-5 get up to three hours of screen time per day, with 60% of children in this age group having access to their own tablet and 29% of parents not setting screen time limits.

The majority of parents (41%) introduced their children to screens at the age of 2, but 57% of parents with multiple children admitted to introducing their younger children to them earlier than their first.

Benefits of Outdoor Play

Fiona Blackwell, Quality Care and Education Director at Kiddi Caru, said

“Being outdoors supports children’s wellbeing. Often children are calmer and happier and more likely to engage in the learning process. Being outdoors gives the opportunity to ‘burn off’ excess energy, which in turn aids appetite and helps children to sleep better.

“Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and children do not benefit just during the summer months but in the winter during day light hours, meaning there is every reason to get outdoors in whatever weather. After all there is no such thing as bad weather just inappropriate clothing.”

Kiddi Caru Day Nurseries and Preschools are a child care group with nurseries based in the midlands and south of England. They currently have over 40 nurseries that offer exceptional care and support to babies and children from newborn to 5-years-old.

Company: Kiddi Caru

Address:
Kiddi Caru Day Nurseries - Head Office
Tuscany House
White Hart Lane
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG21 4AF

Contact Details:
https://www.kiddicaru.com/news/general-news/get-outside-and-play-10th-may-2019/
0800 028 4500

PR Contact:
hsomerscales@receptional.com
01525 715 520

This release was published on openPR.