British children spend an average of five and a half hours watching TV, five hours playing video games and four hours and 20 minutes scrolling social media a week.
This is according to an Axa Health poll of 2,000 parents with children aged six to 17.
The research found the combined figure of almost 15 hours dwarfs the amount of time spent exercising and the three hours and 29 minutes spent reading books.
But the research also found four in 10 parents (38%) think their children would consider video games to be ‘a form of exercise’.
The research found almost seven in 10 (69%) said it can be a struggle to motivate their children to exercise.
Parents even said they think their children would be happy to go for more than three days without setting foot outside for an outdoor activity.
More than half (53% ) have opted to giving children ‘rewards’, or otherwise incentivising them to get more active. And 63% believed their own exercise levels as adults have a direct impact on how much their children do.
A similar percentage of parents (64%) said they would like their children to spend more time outside, according to the OnePoll.com results, believing that it helps with their overall health and wellbeing and with building friendships too.
However, when children do get out more, 41% said they see an improvement in their child’s sleep, and a third (33%) become ‘more positive’ in general.
To further encourage families to get active, Axa Health has linked up with father and Sky Sports News presenter Simon Thomas, and his son Ethan. The pair took on a series of challenges, testing their strength, coordination and reaction times.
Following the day, Simon emphasised the importance of setting a positive example to his children, adding that he and Ethan try to go on a run two or three times a week together, using it as a bonding exercise.
He said: “Most parents will know this, but our youngsters, from the moment they’re born, are mimicking and learning from what we do, how we behave, and what our habits are.
“One of the big challenges now is being present – what I mean by that is being intentional about your time with them because there’s lots of pull on our attention.
Speaking about his children, Simon added: “I want to be around for them. Ultimately, we can’t always decide how long that’s going to be, but if you want to give yourself the best chance by keeping physically active.
“I know it’s hard for lots of people, and there’s different demands on us and our time. I want to be around as long as I possibly can.”
Dr John Burke, chief medical officer at Axa Health, added: “In this digital era, it’s particularly challenging to encourage kids to go outside, especially in the winter months.
“But children getting outdoors, playing sport or otherwise being physical, is just as important outside of school hours as it is inside of them.
“Parents are important role models for children and we’re also guilty of sometimes overusing technology, like our phones, too. Popping down digital devices and getting outside to do an activity together is a great start.”
Dr John Burke said: “Physical activity and time spent outdoors are vital components of a child’s healthy development.
“Beyond the physical benefits, such as improved strength and endurance, outdoor play encourages exploration, social interaction, and cognitive growth.
“In an increasingly digital world, ensuring children have regular opportunities to exercise and connect with nature is more important than ever.
“Some ways we can motivate them to go outside are by encouraging them to try a new activity, by joining in and making it a family activity or perhaps by inviting their friends.
“Making it fun and following their interests is the first step to engaging your child – the more you do it, the sooner it’ll be part of your weekly routine.”
