A terrible number of children do not play abroad

For many of us, the time spent on running in our neighborhoods or hanging stadium fluctuations was a highlight of our childhood. Today, children cannot say the same. New research shows that a large percentage of children does not play outdoors at all, even on weekends.

Scientists at the University of Exter found that about a third of the children reported not to play outdoors after school, while one in five reported not to play abroad during the weekends. Children who ventured abroad often tend to have better social and emotional stability.

“Outdoor play is necessary for children’s growth and development, and our discovery that many children do not participate regularly in outdoor play because it is associated with various health issues, including obesity, anxiety and depression,” said lead researcher Mark Ferguson, a epidemic specialist in the social environment in Exter. statement From the university.

Playing time gap

Authors examined data from a current project, “Born in BradfordA study. Since 2007, the project has monitored nearly 13,000 children born in one hospital in the city – along with their families – in the hope of separating the biggest factors behind a happy and healthy life.

The researchers focused on a sub -group of 2,568 children between the ages of 7 and 12, and the analysis of responses from investigative studies fill in children and their parents.

Finally, 34 % of children reported not playing outdoors during the week, 20 % of not playing outdoors during weekends. Based on their parents’ responses, the more children who played abroad, their better social and emotional skills are on average. Children with these skills are more able to express their feelings or build positive relationships with others.

The study was Published Last week in the Welfare Journal and Society.

The team’s results are limited to children in the UK, but they are lined with other research conducted elsewhere. Study 2023 Find Nearly 40 % of the American school -age children played less than an hour a week, while playing 24 % less than an hour at the weekend, for example. Many studies also followed a Firm decrease At the time of unlawful play that dates back decades between children in the United States and other countries.

Why play is important

Play contains all kinds of benefits for children (and adults, for this issue). Regular physical activity can enhance, strengthen or encourage new friendships, and help children learn how to better move around the world around them. On the contrary, the lack of play time for children can have all kinds of negative health effects on the road.

“This study shows the importance of mental health for children in getting out of their screens and playing in the open air after school and on weekends,” said study author Rosie McChani, Director of the Bradford Project.

Make the play time possible

Regardless of the children’s demand to stay away from their screens, the researchers say more should be done to create neighborhoods where you can walk and other public places to play in.

“We are lucky in Bradford because we have many beautiful parks and green spaces, but these results show that the local streets in which we live are no less important than children, and we need to make sure that they are safe and wicked places, free of traffic and pollution,” added MCEACHAN.

This is easier than doing, however. Earlier this year, the public space project Absolute A survey of cities and other professionals in 57 countries involved in creating, preserving, or improving public places. Only 5 % of the participants felt that their local public spaces meet the needs of their community. Other studies Find The main cities in the United States are even less on average pathway than their international counterparts.