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Now that the weather is warmer, it’s the perfect time for kids to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. But most kids these days aren’t doing that enough, and parents are definitely concerned about that.
A new survey finds:
- 55% of parents are worried about how little time their kids are playing outside.
- 57% worry their kids aren’t as excited to play outside as they were when they were a child.
- According to parents, the average child will spend just five hours a week playing outside, which is less than an hour a day.
- But it’s not for lack of encouragement, with the average parent telling their kids to play outside four times a week.
- The top reasons parents tell their kids to play include:
- Getting some fresh air (51%)
- Taking a break from devices (47%)
- Exercising (42%)
- For their mental health (35%)
- Kids in some states are playing outside more than in others.
- The poll finds that the states where kids play outside most include:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Missouri
- North Dakota
- Wyoming
- And when kids do play outside, what are they doing for fun? Well, the top outdoor activities include:
- Hide and Seek (43%)
- Water balloon fights (42%)
- Tag (42%)
- Going to the playground (slide, swings, etc.) (41%)
- Sports (baseball, basketball, football, etc.) (40%)
- Riding a bike/scooter (40%)
- Swimming (40%)
- Snowball fights (38%)
- Running around the neighborhood with friends (37%)
- Catch (36%)
- Jump rope (28%)
Carolyn McArdle talked about it on the air! Listen below...