UK Edition
Grandparents were more active than today's iPad generation, says National Trust
Grandparents were far more active in their childhood than their grandchildren are today, according to a National Trust survey.
The research found today's iPad generation spend an average of just an hour and 20 minutes outside each day - compared to the two hours and 40 minutes their parents enjoyed and the three and a half hours their grandparents spent outdoors.
Traditional games such as playing with conkers and flying kites have seen a decline, provoking fears that the next generation are missing out on activities that kept their elders entertained.
In fact, the research found that three quarters of grandparents believe they were far more adventurous and daring in their youth than both their children and grandchildren, with 51 per cent saying they have never even seen their grandchild climb a tree.
While advances in modern technology mean the latest generation of children have access to smart phones and social media at an increasingly young age, it appears they are missing out on the simple pleasures, with 80 per cent of adults saying they had more freedom to explore and play outdoors than children do today.
With the summer holidays underway, the National Trust have launched a campaign to encourage families to spend more time outdoors.
And it seems grandparents are the key to this - with 61 per cent saying they took on more childminding duties during the school break and the majority saying they found great enjoyment in teaching their grandchildren outdoor activities.
The research polled 1,000 grandparents and parents for the conservation charity as part of an initiative to highlight the importance of outdoor family play and an appreciation of nature.
Dr Donna Dawson, a behavioural psychologist, said: "The research shows that one of the things grandparents are sharing is a love of nature and the great outdoors, something that harks back to their own happy childhood memories. Learning to appreciate Nature at a young, impressionable age makes it much more likely that children will grow up to pass on their love of outdoor experiences to future generations.
"As a grandmother of seven, I have seen the effects on my grandchildren myself: they are never happier then when running free in the fresh air and sunshine, exploring and asking questions about the natural world around them."
In a bid to inject an interest in nature into the next generation, the National Trust has drawn up a list of 50 must-do activities, including building a den, fishing and picking wild blackberries.
National Trust ranger Kate Jones said: "This summer, we want to inspire children, parents and grandparents to get outdoors and develop their relationship with nature together as a family. With so many fantastic events taking place at Trust locations across the country there's no better time to go wild and explore the great outdoors taking inspiration from our challenges.
"We know that sharing these outdoor experiences with family and friends from a young age, helps to foster a stronger and more ingrained connection to nature, which we hope will be passed on for generations to come."