Children less ‘adventurous’ than their grandparents were

GRANDPARENTS were far more active in their childhood than their grandchildren are today, according to a National Trust survey. The research found today’s ipad generation spend an average of just an hour and 20 minutes outside each day – compared to the two hours and 40 minutes their parents enjoyed and the three and a half hours their grandparents spent outdoors.

Traditional games such as playing with conkers and flying kites have seen a decline, provoking fears that the next generation are missing out on activities that kept their elders entertained.

The research found that three quarters of grandparents believe they were far more adventurous and daring than both their children and grandchildren, with 51 per cent saying they have never even seen their grandchild climb a tree.

While advances in modern technology mean children have access to smartphones and social media at an increasingly young age, it appears they are missing out on the simple pleasures, with 80 per cent of adults saying they had more freedom to explore and play outdoors than children do today.

With the summer holidays under way, the National Trust has launched a campaign to encourage families to spend more time outdoors.

And it seems grandparents are the key to this – with 61 per cent saying they took on more child-minding duties during the school break and the majority saying they found great enjoyment in teaching their grandchildren outdoor activities.

Dr Donna Dawson, a psychologist, said: “Learning to appreciate nature at a young, impressionable age makes it much more likely that children will grow up to pass on their love of outdoor experiences to future generations.”