Shockingly, kids spend an eye-squinting 45 HOURS a week looking at a screen, and it is taking up so much of their life that they are spending less time than prisoners outside.
In fact, it is so bad some parents are now worried about their kids’ lack of outdoor play, which is one of the reasons obesity rates among young people are rising at an alarming rate.
We all know just how tough it is trying to get kids away from TV and phone screens long enough to take a breathe of fresh air outside, but it really shouldn’t be that hard.
Ireland is such a beautiful country, full of gorgeous parks and outdoor space, that parents should be struggling to get their children inside, not the other way around.
But an answer to the problem has been found - finally. It’s called Compass Club by Coillte and it just might be the answer to many Irish parents’ concerns about their children’s lack of outdoor playtime.
Compass Club is all about getting kids into the great outdoors, specifically into Coillte’s forests and woodland areas across the country.
Once they’ve survived the shock of being screen-free, Coillte will bring out your child's inner adventurer through activities like shelter-building, scavenger hunts, survival skills, map-reading and yes, marshmallow-toasting!
And while the kids are having fun in the forest, parents should note that all Compass Club courses are grounded in Strengths Based Education, which focuses on bringing out children’s individual strengths, helping to reach their potential and build confidence. Plus, the imaginatively-designed courses are small in size to ensure everyone gets the time and attention they need.
Compass Club After School takes place one afternoon a week over six weeks during term-time, with courses running concurrently in Coillte forests across the country.
Themed-courses with names like Trackers, Builders, Navigators, Survivors and Makers, ensure that all tastes and preferences are catered for! And regardless of the Irish summer weather, Compass Club also run 5-day Summer Camps which are relatively small in size compared to others camps (i.e. max 16 children per camp), which means more doing, less queuing.
Compass Club by Coillte has high hopes of encouraging a new generation of children to put aside their screens and discover a more active, energetic and healthier way to play!
For more information and course details click here.
