by Joe Jeffrey
Children’s mental health under the microscope ahead of Get Kids Outdoors with Camping campaign
Children in the UK are falling behind in the happiness stakes because they spend too much time indoors, according to a new survey that has found around one in two UK adults worry their children or grandchildren aren’t as happy as they were at the same age.
The survey, conducted by The Camping and Caravanning Club as part of a campaign to “Get Kids Outdoors with Camping” also found a third of adults believe they were much happier as a child themselves, with a startling 96 per cent stating the reason for this being that they spent more time outdoors, interacting with other children rather than sitting in front of a screen, like much of today’s younger generation.
Findings also revealed that four out of five (88 per cent) adults believe that spending more time outdoors and going on camping trips would help improve children’s social skills and mental health, because it would teach them how to interact, adapt and operate in real life and practical situations. Yet half (50 per cent) admit their children don’t spend enough time outdoors and over two thirds (69 per cent) say their children spend more time indoors than outdoors.
Furthermore, 72 per cent of all adults believe that social media and online gaming have a negative effect on children’s ability to engage and interact in real life situations.
Barnardo’s chief executive, Javed Khan, said: “Being active and having quality family time are two things that help children and young people thrive. Getting out and about together on an exciting camping adventure or for a walk to the local park is positive mentally and physically. As well as health benefits, spending less time online could reduce the hidden dangers children are exposed to online.”
The survey also revealed that the majority (86 per cent) of adults believe that encouraging children to spend more quality time in the Great British outdoors and on camping trips could help to increase physical health and fitness and in turn fight against the current, so-called obesity ‘epidemic’. More than a third agreed that being active in earlier life means the child would be more likely to retain a level of fitness in adult life. Yet recent figures¹ suggest only 21 per cent of children today regularly play outdoors, compared to 71 per cent of their parents.
Launching next week, the Get Kids Outdoors with Camping campaign, which coincides with National Camping and Caravanning Week (30 May – 5 June), will see The Camping and Caravanning Club embark on a national roadshow, visiting popular areas of the UK, to demonstrate and reinforce the mental and physical benefits that getting out into the great outdoors can have on adults and children alike.
Camping and Caravanning Club president and TV presenter Julia Bradbury, who kick started the campaign by camping overnight on top of the O2 Arena on 24 May 2016, said: “There’s no question our kids are missing out; apparently the likelihood of a child visiting any green space has halved in a generation. Children are becoming disconnected from the natural environment and that is having a detrimental effect on their development. Outdoor adventures help with physical development and build emotional resilience. Get them off the screens and get them outdoors!”
The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Get Kids Outdoors with Camping Roadshow will kick off on Monday 30 May at Twycross Zoo, before pitching up at Cardiff Bay on Thursday 2 June, taking in Gulliver’s, Milton Keynes, the British Caravanners Club Rally, Evesham and the Canoe Camping Club Rally, Hereford in between. The Roadshow will then make its way up to Blair Drummond Safari Park, Sterling, Scotland to set up camp on Saturday 4 June . Adults and children of all ages are invited to join members of The Camping and Caravanning Club to discover all the fun and activities there are to be had by camping in the great outdoors.
What do you think of kids today? Do you think you were happier when you were a child and, if so, why?
