NPower
INDOOR BORE
Lazy parents are turning their kids into the 'Xbox generation' - because they can't be bothered to take their children outside to play, it emerged yesterday (Thurs).
Researchers found one in ten parents adopt an 'easy life' approach and sit on the sofa playing computer games with the kids instead of utilising the great outdoors.
The study also found seven per cent - or TWO million parents - 'don't have time' to take part in outdoor activities with their children.
While 44 per cent blame bad weather, 14 per cent point to heavy workloads and one in 20 said they were 'too unfit' to keep up with their son or daughter.
One in five said their kids didn't want to play outside because they'd rather relax on the sofa.
Yesterday (Thurs) Clare McDougall, head of Climate Cops, an npower initiative which commissioned the research, said: ''It's sad to see so many parents are staying indoors with their children rather than heading into the garden or local park.
''I can appreciate that sitting in front of a TV is an easier option than making the effort to keep youngsters entertained outside for longer than five minutes, but it's so important to their growing up.
''Many parents are too tired at the end of the day to devote time outside, but it's really quite poignant to see some deem themselves 'too unfit'.
''It's important for the nation's kids to get more exercise, for parents to engage and spend quality time with their children, rather than be engrossed in video games.
''We were amazed seven percent of mums and dads don't have time to play outside with their kids . This has huge implications for their social skills and general well-being.
''With the nation's football hopes at fever pitch what better time to encourage the kids to unplug their games consoles and get outdoors for a kick-about instead.
''If every person in Britain did something outdoors for an hour every day instead of using their computer or television the nation could save #327 million worth of electricity a year
which amounts to 1.6 million tones of CO2.''
The study also found one in five families spend just 90 minutes together outside each week, with walks, gardening and heading to the beach most favoured outings.
Fourteen per cent said they were unable to get off work in time to play with the kids while one in ten said there was nothing in their neighbourhood for the children to do.
Regionally, Southampton, Sheffield and Brighton parents spend the least amount of time each week outside with the children - averaging just four hours.
Parents in Leeds, Plymouth and Cardiff devote the most time to being outdoors - totalling nearer seven hours.
The research was carried out to support npower's No Power Hour, a football roadshow taking place across the UK this June, managed by Britain's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan to encourage kids to play outdoors.
