On average, children on weekdays in the fresh air for an hour and a half, over the weekend, then almost three hours a day. "The numbers look pretty nice, optimistic, but the reality is a bit more complicated," he warned Dagmar Loubalová of the Foundation Metamorphosis on a thematic conference on children stay in nature. While 10% of children are outdoors more than 26 hours a week, 11% of children spend outdoors during the week, less than 4 hours. Half of the children during the past week did not get into nature.
Especially children from the first grade residing in the countryside very happy older schoolchildren already, but from time spent outdoors are not so happy. Decreasing the time it spends in the fresh air, space and enclosed gardens, playgrounds or wild changes rather for busy streets and parks. Children less educated parents spend more time outdoors, most often in the streets or on the playground, but less frequently fall into the greenery and wildlife. Conversely college kids do not have many opportunities to be outdoors over a work week, but it is catching on weekend trips to the countryside or the time spent in the garden. Vegetation and wildlife are also accessible to children from smaller towns and villages.
Staying outside influences season. While in January the children spend outdoors on average only one hour a day in July, it usually four. According to the parents, children should be outdoors more often. 81% of them believe that children need to be out there every day and lack of contact with nature are considered a major problem. I agree that this problem also affects adults.
Big time competitor digested in nature, but perhaps even books, are the media. Now temptations of modern technology, moreover, regarded as most parents why their children are often outdoors. Children themselves estimate that the television, computers, the Internet or the radio spend double the time spent outdoors for more than four hours a day. Almost a third of parents admitted even fears of dangerous people. Children see things differently. Most often justify why they can not be out longer, that is bad weather, they have little free time and a lot of learning. Every fifth schoolboy complains that he was not going out with whom.
To be where you play
Improve conditions, particularly in the cities, so that small and big kids to encourage more frequent play outside, commited to the international initiative Child Friendly City - Cities friendly to children. In the Czech Republic for her reporting architect Mirjana Petrik. Together with his students two years ago analyzed from the perspective of children's environment in Prague 3, this year started cooperation with Prague 7th
Urban planning for and with children already in her words, worked in the Danish city of Odense, birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen or Boulder. Helped solve problems with the departure of young families to satellites and accommodation by different cultures in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Places for the youngest children toddle and preschool children must be attractive to parents, says Mirjana Petrik. Even older children lacking in parks opportunity to refresh or go to the toilet. Teens are looking for places where they can undisturbed "talk" and observe the surroundings.
Currently formally built playground should, according to experts "loosened" and to offer children the opportunity to build his own house, climb a tree or a family roast sausages on the fire. Open to children can also, for example, some private or school garden.
"Children do not see where it starts and where it ends playground. They play at any time, and kdeliv jakoliv, "says Mirjana Petrik and mentions statues and fountains, which, to the displeasure of their authors become popular children's playground and ponds. The game can not be used because even ordinary green infiltration zones.
Even more fundamental than the appearance of playgrounds and parks, but their availability and connectedness. Analysis of data from Žižkov example showed how big obstacle is the lack of inputs for kids at Vítkov Konevova street. Busy road, only to find to a nearby park free part goes. Fewer barriers would be welcomed by parents with strollers or cyclists who might interconnected system after the quiet streets of quick and easy access to the countryside and from the city center.
More and more studies have shown how important it may be picnics for physical and mental health and creativity and concentration. The Nature Conservancy is needed not only in nature but are, but also learn to love it. More information in the article when childhood in the countryside, you are an adult and conservationist?
Source: Ekolist.cz