How kids spend their time

time spent on screens vs not spent on screens

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.

1 in 5 American children ages 3 through 17 — about 15 million — have a diagnosable mental, emotional or behavioral disorder in a given year.

%

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

Learn How to Reverse the Trend of an Indoor Childhood

The lazy, hazy days of summer are becoming a distant memory and the weather is...
Crisp air. A palette of gorgeous colors surrounding you. And busy critters, giving us our...
At Childhood by Nature, we don’t believe that it’s what you know about nature that...
Leaves. We see them every day, nearly everywhere we go. In fact, we’re so accustomed...
Never before have we understood so much about the benefits of nature for our kids,...
When you head outside with your child, whether on a trail or in your neighborhood,...
Maybe your child can’t be kept inside, is the first up for a morning hike...
We’re living in stressful times: a polarized society experiencing economic, social, and racial tensions; a...
Schools around the world are facing the ultimate test as they attempt to navigate COVID-19...
Summertime is here! The ideal time to update your child’s library with books about nature....
As we move towards a slow and gradual reopening of society after Covid-19 restrictions, we...
The pandemic has meant that most of us stay local, exploring nearby nature in our...

Sign up to get Nature at home

Get the latest news, events and tips for a nature-filled childhood!