Has computer time replaced play time?

A FIFTH of children have never climbed a tree and almost half have never been camping.

A survey of eight to 12-year-olds by TV channel Eden revealed that youngsters prefer sitting in front of a computer to playing outside.

Activities such as den building, bike riding, stone skimming and tig have taken a back seat to the X-Box, Playstation and Nintendo.

DAWN MARSDEN took to the streets of Oldham to find out if shoppers agreed with the survey.


PHIL Baldman (55) believes running around and exploring outside is good for the character.

He said: “Children do spend too much time indoors staring at a computer screen.

“Computers didn’t exist when I was a lad so I used to be out on my bike all the time.

“I think these days, parents are scared to let their children play out but I don’t believe it is any more dangerous now it’s just that you hear about things more in the media so people panic.

“Children are better off when they can go out and run round — a scraped knee never hurt anyone. It’s character building.”

Ken Wilde (73), who has two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, said: “My grandchildren spend far too much time on their computers. I have tried to get them involved in sporting activities but they’d rather play games on their computer.

“I was never in the house when I was younger. I was always out walking, running or climbing trees and I was more than happy to make my own entertainment. I was Wilde by name and wild by nature.”

June Cooper (68) has two grandchildren. She said: “My grandchildren play out and their parents always take them out to do stuff so they are not just sat in front of the TV. They only use the computer now and again to look at photographs.

“They love doing active stuff like tree climbing and camping. It is the way they have been brought up and their parents make sure there is always something for them to do.”

Barrie Davenport (66), a grandfather of two, said: “Our grandchildren don’t have a computer so they just use their mum’s computer now and again to do homework.

“My eldest grandchild plays out a lot and he really enjoys that but it can be frightening for parents to let their children out as you hear some terrible stories in the news.

“Parents often work now so it can be hard to organise childcare and make sure their youngsters have things to do.”

Barrie’s wife Maureen (67) added: “They don’t have computers in their rooms so they’re not playing on them all the time. The grandchildren go out riding bikes with their parents so it is an active family event.

“Some activities can be expensive but we used to make our own entertainment and were never at home when we were younger. We didn’t have youth clubs, we were just sent off with a bottle of water and a jam butty.”

Len and Annie Law (both 78) have two grandchildren.

Len said: “Kids today do spend too much time indoors. We used to go walking and playing in parks and used our imagination to have fun.

“Kids are always on their mobile phones. I think it is better for children if they experience things such as camping and tree climbing.”

Annie added: “TV wasn’t around when we were kids so we had no choice but to entertain ourselves. We were always out doing something active.”