According to a new survey conducted by AO.com, 85% of mums admit to using modern technology in a bid to keep their children occupied while they busy themselves with household chores.
With 1,000 British mums participating in the research, it was established that children are spending, on average, 17 hours a week in front of a screen.
While this may not seem excessive across seven days, it does represent double the number of hours spent playing outdoors.
Considering the growing inclination to use technology as a babysitter, it may come as no surprise to learn that almost half of those surveyed worry about the impact this approach may have on their children.
Commenting on the findings, AO.com Group Brand Director, Andrew Kirkcaldy, said: “One of the stand-out statistics was the fact that 44% of parents worry that technology could be having a negative impact on their child’s social skills development.”
Elaborating on the figures, he continues: “31% of parents don’t feel their children are getting enough outdoor play time and it’s clear that the parents AO.com surveyed would like to see their children enjoying some of the activities they themselves enjoyed as children.”
Despite the reliance on modern technology, it’s heartening to learn that children still find pleasure in traditional pastimes, with 67% of children happy to include bike riding and reading in their typical week.
Eager to placate parents troubled by the prospect their children are spending too much time in front of a screen, Andrew says: “It’s great to see some of the more traditional pastimes still playing a role in childhood playtime. And both TV and more modern technology really can enhance learning experiences and play experiences for children.”
Everything in moderation, as they say!
