Traditional childhood games like cowboys and Indians and dressing-up are dead and buried – and have been replaced by hours spent on Mario Kart and Sonic, according to research. A study carried out among 1,269 children aged five to 11 found only a quarter still amuse themselves with traditional games such as dressing up as explorers and fairies.
By contrast, 45% of kids regularly play computer games, the study found.
And while half of the nation’s children spend hours glued to the television, only 19% build dens in the garden and just 25% embark on imaginary play.
Three quarters of modern children admit they would love to spend more time exploring the world around them – but two thirds say mom and dad are usually too busy to make it happen.
As such, the average child rarely has the opportunity to get muddy in the garden, squash flowers to make perfume, bake in the kitchen, or play make believe games.
A spokeswoman for Ripley’s Believe It or Not! London, which conducted the study to launch the Mini Explorer campaign said:
“The popularity of technology with the younger generation means that computer games and television have now taken over from more traditional children’s past times.
”We have launched the Ripley’s Mini Explorer campaign to encourage kids to leave their living rooms, get out and explore the world around them.
”Explorer and founder of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Robert Ripley was famed for his adventures and his collections of unusual artefacts from across the world, and it is his legacy that we want to keep alive.”
The study showed 43% of parents are quite happy to let their kids play computer games or watch television whenever they like.
But while children love playing with computer games, seven in ten children would actually like to spend more time playing outdoors, and 77% would like to know more about the world around them, such as the names of bugs and plants, discovering nature and so on.
Researchers also polled older children to find out how they like to spend their time.
The study of 731 children aged 12 to 15 also revealed hours spent entertaining themselves with computer games and technology only increases as they get older – while in contrast, the desire to learn more about the world decreases.
For children in this age category, the gap between time spent playing computer games and time spent playing in the garden is even bigger – six in ten kids over the age of 12 play computer games regularly, while just 17% often step foot in the garden.
And while 59% often put their feet up in front of the television, only 7% would consider building a den.
Just over half of those polled would choose to listen to music in their spare time rather than dressing up (5%) or making things from scrap (nine per cent).
And whereas younger children still want to explore and learn more about the world, only 42% of older children can say the same.
Six in ten children aged 12 to 15 aren’t even bothered about spending more time with their parents.
The Ripley’s Believe It or Not! spokesman added:
”Older kids are naturally spending more time playing alone as their parents are happier to give them more independence.
”The Ripley’s Mini Explorer campaign gives parents and kids a great excuse to spend more time together and encourages their natural curiosity.”
MOST COMMON PASTIMES AGE 5-11
1. Watching television (50%)
2. Playing computer games (45%)
3. Playing in the garden (43%)
4. Drawing or painting (37%)
5. Construction toys (34%)
6. Watching movies (26%)
7. Reading magazines or books (25%)
8. Dressing up (25%)
9. Imaginary play (25%)
10. Making things from scrap (24%)
MOST COMMON PASTIMES AGE 12-15
1. Playing computer games (60%)
2. Watching television (60%)
3. Going on the internet (52%)
4. Listening to music (52%)
5. Watching movies (39%)
6. Reading magazines or books (28%)
7. Drawing or painting (20%)
8. Playing football (17 %)
9. Playing in the garden (17%)
10. Cooking (16%)
