Kids Play 50% Less Outdoors than Parents Did

Since the 1970s, kids have lost 12 hours per week in playtime, including a record 50% drop in unstructured outdoor activities and a 40% drop in recess at school, according to Unilever’s “Wisk Active Play” study in 2003. Most mothers (97%) said reducing children’s stress is the No. 1 benefit of outdoor play and 82% think it enhances self-esteem. Moms cited their children’s dependence on TV (more than 4 hours per day), computer games (10 hours per week) and lack of safe areas to play outside as top reasons why their children play outdoors significantly less than previous generations. The study revealed that as children, 70% of moms played outside everyday, compared to 31% of their children today.

Wisk also teamed up with baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. to launch the “America Needs Dirt” national public outreach campaign with tips, programs and information about the benefits of playing outdoors on www.AmericaNeedsDirt.com.