Children are ditching gadgets and getting back to nature after spending more time outside during lockdown, survey of parents reveals
- Children are ditching gadgets and choosing to spend time outdoors instead
- A nationwide poll of 2,000 parents showed how kids' behaviour is changing
- Traditional activities they are taking part in include climbing trees and crabbing
Children are ditching gadgets and reverting to traditional pastimes like fruit picking, tree climbing, fishing, den building and gardening, research has found.
The new study revealed an upsurge in British children taking part in traditional outdoor activities and spending less time on gadgets.
In the nationwide poll of 2,000 parents with primary school aged children, 90 per cent responded to say their children were spending more time outside after getting into the habit over lockdown.
Children are ditching their gadgets and returning to traditional outdoor pursuits like crabbing, as well as climbing trees, picking fruit, and paddling in the sea - with the Covid lockdown being cited as a factor in the change of behaviour
Other old-fashioned pursuits which are now popular with kids again include making daisy chains (36 per cent), hiking (32 per cent), strawberry picking (31 per cent) and collecting pebbles and polished glass from beaches (30 per cent).
The study found stone skimming (30 per cent), rock pooling (26 percent), bug hunts (26 per cent) and making mud pies (24 per cent) also made the list - and at number one was the classic activity loved by generation upon generation of British children, feeding the ducks.
A fifth (20 per cent) of primary school kids regularly go fishing, while the same number (20 per cent) like nothing better than making 'potions' from plants.
Almost three quarters (72 per cent) of parents claimed their children always loved going outside, whatever the weather.
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The poll also found 88 per cent of primary school children said if they must stay indoors all weekend because of bad weather, they end up feeling desperate to go outside and play.
And 38 per cent of the kids polled said their ideal day would involve being out and about on an adventure, compared to just 30 per cent who said they'd prefer to stay in and play video games.
Lauren Potter, Brand Manager at Fruittella UK who commissioned the survey, said: 'We know many parents worry about how much time their children spend behind screens, so it's great to see that actually most kids want to instead play outside and explore.
'Whether enjoying a family picnic or out foraging for fruit, blackberry is a flavour synonymous with summertime, serving as the inspiration for our brand-new Fruittella Summer Fruits flavour.'
