Children and young people reveal motivations to move as screen time explodes

A survey of more than 1,000 children and young people aged seven to 14, conducted with kids and family insight agency, Beano Brain, has revealed the latest views and habits of the next generation when it comes to being active.

It comes as ukactive launches its ‘Next Generation’ strategy for investing in the future of children and young people’s physical activity levels – with the ambition to get one million more children active by 2030.

Two-fifths of children want to be more physically active than they currently are but some report spending six hours a day glued to their devices when not at school, according to research by ukactive.

Only 26% of children sampled said they’d want to be on a screen over taking part in physical activity and 40% said that they want to be more physically active than they currently are.

However, over half of the seven to 14-year-olds sampled (53%) are using screens for more than three hours each day when not in school, with almost a quarter (24%) of 11 to 14-year-olds spending more than six hours a day on devices. Spending time on screens increases as children get older, but their time being active does not.

Key factors that enable young people to enjoy physical activity include:
Doing it with friends/people I know – 63%
Wearing my own choice of clothes – 49%
When the coach or teacher is friendly/supportive – 46%
When it’s not too serious – 43%
Being in a place I am familiar with – 42%
Almost a third (30%) of children and young people said they prefer to be physically active but not as part of a competition.

Evidence shows that children and young people who are more active have more confidence, higher self-esteem, less anxiety and stress, better social skills and better academic performance. And widely published evidence shows that physical activity is essential in preventing over 20 chronic conditions including type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease and many types of cancer.

The polling insights indicate how more children and young people can be engaged and help show why gym and fitness activities and swimming saw the greatest growth in participation last year (2.2% and 2.6% respectively) according to Sport England’s Active Lives Survey.

The ‘Next Generation’ Strategy will seek to better understand the needs and demands of children and young people to support operators in encouraging participation in physical activity, as well ensuring children and young people are welcomed safely into facilities.

Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: “Children and young people are telling us they want to be more active and that they really value fun and varied activities in familiar, supported environments. As sedentary screen time and mental health issues grow, the Government must take a new policy approach if it is to help create a generation of happy, healthy children focusing on the essential role of our nation’s gyms, pools and leisure centres in helping the health and wellbeing of the youngest in our society. Our Next Generation strategy will help our members to engage one million more children and young people across the UK by 2030, with updated guidance and regular insights to improve our services.”

Stephanie Peacock, Sports Minister, said: “Grassroots sport has the potential to transform lives, which is why we are building and upgrading thousands of multi-sport facilities to help you get active wherever you live. Alongside this, we have launched a review of the school curriculum designed to ensure that sport is not just the preserve of a privileged few. We all have a role to play in getting the nation moving, so I welcome this contribution from ukactive which provides a clear direction for the sector to create opportunities for children and young people to enjoy the benefits of physical activity.”

To read ‘The Next Generation: A strategy for investing in the future of children and young people’s physical activity levels’ click here.