Parents across the West Midlands are increasingly turning their backs on technology when it comes to playtime, according to a new poll.
New research has revealed that parents in the region are battling to make sure imaginative games, such as making dens and playing make believe, don’t become a thing of the past as electronic toys become more and more popular.
The recent poll carried out by beloved toy manufacturer PLAYMOBIL revealed 75 percent of the parents in the West Midlands are worried that imaginary games are waning in popularity amongst their children as TVs, computer games and electronic devices take over play time.
The research, which targeted 1,500 parents of 5-11 year olds, found that eight in 10 parents in the West Midlands wished their children used their imagination more. The survey also revealed that 91 percent of the parents said they actively try to steer their children away from gadgets, but as a result the typical family has almost five arguments a week when parents remove gadgets from their youngsters.
Parents in the survey said playtime was now very different to their day, with almost 40 percent in the region wishing their children were more interested in playing in the garden, whilst over a third of the mums and dads wanted their youngsters to play more independently with non-electronic toys.
However parents did confess that constraints on their own lives sometimes made it difficult to create an imaginative environment. Of those surveyed in the region, over 40 percent of parents confessed to lacking the time to create an environment in the home where their children can be more imaginative, and over 80 percent of the parents often feel hypocritical because they spend so much time online themselves.
Jamie Dickinson, Marketing Manager at PLAYMOBIL, said: “Imagination is such an important part of childhood, and something that as parents we all want to nurture in our children.
“However with the rise of technology there are now more options than ever for children when it comes to choosing how to spend playtime. It is sometimes hard for parents to get children to spend time away from the computer or TV screen and use their imagination to create their own world using toys like PLAYMOBIL, but it is a vital part of play.”
Over 65 percent of the parents in the West Midlands said their children’s favourite thing to do is to watch YouTube videos on a phone or tablet. And 77 percent said it was hard to strike the right balance when it comes to gadgets, as they are keen for their children to be technologically savvy, but not spend too long glued to a screen.
Dr Claire Halsey, Clinical Psychologist and Child Development and Independent Parenting Expert, worked with PLAYMOBIL to investigate the results of the research and found them in line with her own experience.
“First and foremost, it’s important to remember that play is for fun. Play is the everyday ‘work’ of children and it is how they explore, learn and satisfy their own curiosity about their world. With so many positive areas of learning and development linked to play it’s no surprise that it’s important for parents to ensure their child experiences a wide variety of play.
“There is clear evidence over the past couple of generations that the balance has tipped away from traditional games and time spent being active outdoors towards more time indoors in electronic play. But striking the right balance is key for children’s development in a multitude of ways, and parents play the central role in making good decisions.”
