CNW - Today’s kids are spending less time outdoors than their parents did, and new research reveals how modern societal pressures and parents might be contributing to that trend.
According to a Nature Valley survey, today’s kids are spending three times more time indoors on digital devices than they do outside in nature. They will be the first to admit it, with 35 per cent saying they do not spend time outdoors because they would rather be on digital devices for gaming and social media.
Nature Valley’s research revealed several reasons Canadians shy away from spending time outdoors, including:
• Societal Pressures - Parents feel tremendous societal pressure to enroll their kids in organized, structured activities, instead of letting them play freely in nature. As a result, scheduled activities tend to fill up kids’ free time – in addition to dinner time, homework time and bed time.
• Not enough time / too tired - A feeling that getting out in nature requires packing up the car and driving somewhere far away. Canadians also deprioritize exploring nature because they are “too tired” (27 per cent).
• Canadian weather - 52 per cent were dissuaded by Canadian weather being too hot or too cold and concurrently, because they do not like bugs (24 per cent).
• Technology/screens - 35 per cent of Canadians under 18 said they prefer to spend their time with technology, such as social media and gaming.
“As kids now spend more time with entertainment media, they’re getting less and less time outdoors, despite the benefits,” says Ben Klasky, President and CEO of IslandWood, an innovative nonprofit organization that introduces thousands of children to the outdoors each year. “Spending time in nature is more than just fun and games. Independent studies have shown it increases a person’s ability to concentrate and problem solve as well as reduces anxiety and stress. Spending time playing in a natural environment also breeds creativity and problem-solving skills in children.”
Nature Valley’s research also revealed that Canadian parents feel if they do not have their children enrolled in organized activities, then they are somehow not being good parents. But the fact is, unstructured activity in a natural environment brings tremendous benefits to children and adults alike, and it can be achieved just by making some simple lifestyle changes.
Find out more on how to get kids outsideby going to: the Nature Valley 100 #NatureMoments for 100 days of summer, visit naturevalley.ca.
SOURCE: Nature Valley