Key findings from the Dirt Is Good report on child development

Here are some stats from the Dirt Is Good research, that we found particularly interesting:

#1.

Almost half of children aged 5 to 12 spend just over an hour on real play per day. This is one third less time that their parents spent at that age, a drop of 36 per cent in a single generation.

#2.

1 in 4 children today say that their favourite activity is climbing a tree, compared to 1 in 2 parents when they were the same age.

#3.

7 in 10 parents wish their children played more traditional games like they did when they were a child such as climbing trees, playing in/or building a cubby house and getting muddy.

#4.

8 in 10 parents wish their children had the freedom to enjoy real play like they did growing up.

#5.

1 in 3 parents admit to ‘cotton wooling’ their child for fear of them getting hurt or getting dirty, while enjoying outdoor, real play activities.

#6.

9 in 10 children participate in extra-curricular activities each week such as ballet, music and tennis.

#7.

A third (33 per cent) of parents feel pressured to be the ‘perfect parent’ by other parents.

Table of favourite ‘real play’ activities enjoyed by kids versus parents today.