Parents reveal the childhood summer traditions they fear are disappearing, as new research finds children are spending more than 10 hours a day indoors.
Remember spending the summer holidays racing around on your bike, building dens in the woods or meeting friends in town until your parents called you home? For many parents, those simple childhood adventures feel increasingly like a thing of the past.
New research from Utility Warehouse has revealed that children across the UK are spending an average of more than 10 hours a day indoors during the summer holidays, with technology and social media being blamed for keeping youngsters inside.
The study of 2,000 UK parents found that 84% believe their children spend more time indoors during the summer holidays than they did at the same age, while 78% say the rise of technology and social media is the biggest reason.
And with more time spent at home comes higher household costs, with 87% of parents saying their bills increase during the summer holidays by an average of £175.
The Summer Traditions Parents Miss Most
While today’s children have seemingly endless entertainment at their fingertips, parents say they’re missing out on some of the classic activities that made their own summer holidays memorable.
According to the research, the childhood traditions parents most wish their children could experience include:
- Riding their bike – 55%
- Climbing trees – 46%
- Going into town with friends – 45%
- Going to the local swimming pool – 37%
- Making dens in the woods – 37%
- Making daisy chains – 37%
- Going to the beach – 34%
- Getting pick ‘n’ mix – 28%
- Going blackberry picking – 27%
- Washing neighbours’ cars for pocket money – 25%
From spending hours outside with friends to turning a patch of woodland into a makeshift hideout, these low-cost adventures were once a staple of the school summer holidays.
‘Just One More Episode’ Is Replacing Outdoor Adventures
It isn’t just outdoor activities that parents think have disappeared. More than four in five parents (83%) admit they could never have got away with some of the habits considered normal during today’s school holidays.
The biggest offenders include complaining about being bored (46%), endlessly snacking (40%), watching television all day (32%) and gaming for hours on end (32%).
With streaming, gaming, social media and smartphones all competing for children’s attention, it’s perhaps unsurprising that getting kids away from their screens can feel like a challenge.
Utility Warehouse Launches Free Summer Scavenger Hunt
With the summer holidays drawing to a close, Utility Warehouse is encouraging families to swap screens for some fresh air with a free family-friendly Scavenger Hunt.
The activity features playful prompts designed to get children and parents outside together, encouraging them to explore their surroundings, use their imagination and rediscover some of the simple pleasures of a British summer.
The initiative forms part of Utility Warehouse’s wider focus on bringing families and communities together, while also supporting greener spaces across the UK.
The company says it has helped plant more than 700,000 trees, supporting woodland projects designed to restore biodiversity and create natural spaces for people and wildlife.
David Walter, Chief Commercial Officer at Utility Warehouse, said:
“Summer is all about making memories together. At Utility Warehouse, we reckon life is better when you get it together — whether that’s bundling your household bills into one bill or getting outside with the family.”
He added that while technology has its benefits, “scrolling through feeds just can’t match real-life fun in the fresh air.”
Rediscovering The Simple Joys of Summer
For parents feeling nostalgic for long summer days spent outdoors, the research highlights how much childhood has changed in just a generation.
While there’s nothing wrong with a gaming session or settling down for a film, the humble summer adventures of riding bikes, climbing trees, making dens and meeting friends can offer children a chance to switch off and make memories away from their screens.
Families can download Utility Warehouse’s free Scavenger Hunt Map via its newsroom and use it as inspiration for their next outdoor adventure.
You can also find out more about Utility Warehouse’s environmental initiatives and commitment to greener spaces on the company’s official website.
