What stops kids getting outdoors?

Since schooling became compulsory for most children – somewhere between 1880 and 1950 depending on where in the world you live! – going outdoors for playtime and lessons, and playing with friends on the way to and from school, have been a key parts of the school day and valued by teachers and parents alike. But over the last 40 years the time they have outdoors has shrunk…

Do you know what the key statistics are?

1 – How many children in the UK have less time outdoors than prisoners?

a) 44%            b) 23%        c) 74%

2 – How many children love learning lessons outdoors more than indoors?

a) 24%            b)58%           c) 92%

3 – How much extra progress do children learning outdoors make?

a) 3 weeks b) 3 months c) 3 years

4 – How much shorter are school playtimes compared to 1995?

a) 35 minutes b) 15 minutes c) 30 minutes

5 – How many children aged 9 walk home from school without a grown up?

a) 20%              b) 85%         c) 55%

6 – How many parents think play is important for learning?

a) 9%                b) 49%         c) 98%

Answers

1c – a nationally representative sample of 2,000 parents of 5-12 year olds and found 74% of children spent less than 60 minutes playing outside each day. UN guidelines for prisoners require “at least one hour of suitable exercise in the open air daily”. source: link

2c – In the evaluation of the four year Natural Connections demonstration project, run across 125 schools, “the majority of children also thought they learned better and achieved more when learning outside. 92 per cent of pupils involved in the project said they enjoyed their lessons more when outdoors, with 90 per cent feeling happier and healthier as a result.” source: link

3b – “On average, pupils who had participated in adventure learning interventions appeared to make approximately three additional months’ progress.” source: link

4a, b&c -OK Trick question – “Between 1995 and 2006, breaktimes for the youngest children had been shortened by an average of 15 minutes per week, and for upper primary and secondary school students, had been reduced by 30 and 35 minutes per week respectively. Some secondary schools were reporting lunch breaks of 30 minutes or less and a fifth reported lunchtimes to be 40 minutes or less, barely enough time to queue for and to eat a meal, let alone have time for recreation (Blatchford & Baines, 2006).” source: link

5a – The Children’s Independent Mobility Report International comparison found that in England in 2010 20% of parents say their child comes home from school alone (without an adult). This compares to over 85% in Finland and Germany. source: link

6b – In a survey conducted by Edelman Berland for Dirt is Good in 2016 they found that 98% of parents agree that play is a way for children to learn life skills outside of the classroom and an absence of play will have a negative effect on skill development. source: mimeo (available on request)

If you think Outdoor learning and play is important, join in Outdoor Classroom Day, a global campaign to celebrate and inspire learning and play outside the classroom? Parents can sign up to support and we’;; send you information to help you promote the campaign locally and share on social media. Teachers can just sign up their class and head teachers can sign up the whole school!

And don’t forget to get outdoors yourself!!