The State of Childhood - Childhood By Nature - Page 6

The State of Childhood

How kids spend their time

In School

Children today spend more hours per day, days per year, and years of their life in school than ever before.

Structured

The average American child spends only four to seven minutes per day in unstructured outdoor play.

Scheduled

Since the 1970s, children have lost 12 hours a week of free time

On Screens

The average American child spends over 7 hours a day in front of a screen.

In less than a decade, there has been a 50 percent increase in children’s discretionary screen time (DST).

Sedentary

80% percent of US high school students don't get the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day.

Where kids spend their time

We are raising an indoor generation. As schools cut recess and parents fill children's schedules with indoor activities, kids are not heading outside.

minutes per day

The amount of leisure time 8 – 15 yr old UK children spent in parks, countryside, seaside, beach or coastal locations, on average.

%

The decrease in area in which kids can explore today.

%

The percentage of time kids spend outside.

%

Amount of time kids today spend playing outside compared to their parents.

The State of Kids

Today’s children are weaker, less fit and less emotionally stable than previous generations. In fact, experts say this may be the first generation at risk of having a shorter lifespan than their parents.

%

Suicide rates have soared 24 percent in the U.S. since 1999.

in 12 kids

Have the average core strength and balance of the kids 30 years ago.

%

Of today’s children will be obese by the time they are 35.

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