Study: Outdoor play vital for children
Only 25% indulge in games in the open daily while a whopping 39% are not active at all
New Delhi: Children chasing one another in parks and playgrounds or playing outdoor games is a sight now rarely seen due to academic pressure and the lure of video games, say experts, warning of the dangers of neglecting physical activity.
Play Life, quantitative research commissioned by Nickelodeon channel and conducted by Hansa Research, revealed that only 25 per cent children play outdoor games on a daily basis while a whopping 39 per cent are not active in outdoor play at all.
Nina Elavia Jaipuria, senior vice-president and general manager of Nickelodeon India, said the results of the study had left them dumbstruck. "It has been an eye-opener and has thrown up some startling insights. Outdoor play is clearly deprioritised in a kid's life today. It is a wake- up call for children, parents and schools too," Jaipuria told IANS. The rising trend of video games is to be blamed, she said.
"Entertainment mediums are so many that children are opting for comfort. Video games like Playstations and online games interest them more than to shed sweat in community parks," Jaipuria said.
Social change
Samir Parikh, a consultant psychiatrist with Max Healthcare, said: "It is disheartening but it is an obvious change that is clearly visible in every home. The social change that has taken place of giving importance to video games and activities has become the major reason for this.
"The time spent in school has increased, the time spent in academics has increased — extra classes have become a routine for schools," Parikh said.
According to experts, a lack of physical activity can lead to a lot of psychological and health problems like obesity. Children who do not spend enough time playing outdoors are also typically deprived of social interactions and natural stimulation. Playing outside is one of the best ways to boost self-esteem in young children and qualities of leadership and cooperation may also begin to emerge, the experts say.
Children who play outside for an average of 90 minutes per day in good weather have less risk of heart trouble later in life.
Of the 75 per cent of the children who do not play outdoors on a daily basis, in the case of over half (38 per cent), it was the parents who did not allow them to play.
Do your children participate in outdoor activities often? If not, what is the main reason for it? What can be done to encourage children to play outdoors?
