the Wedding Planner

UK Wedding News

03/06/2015

Parents Transform Gardens To Get Their Children To Play Outside

New research has found that parents in Britain spend over £800 each year on their gardens – in an attempt to get their children to spend some time outdoors.

The findings, published as part of the Britain at Home report from Lloyds Bank Insurance, revealed UK homeowners with children spent an average of £803 in the past year on their gardens. This is almost a third more than the national average of £587. When it comes to trying to transform their garden, 37% of parents admitted their children do not spend enough time outside.

Of the 2,000 surveyed, providing offspring with an alternative to television and computer is behind the surge in spending. For example, 32% of parents with a garden now own a trampoline, while 30% have a padding pool. A further 26% have slides and swings, sandpits (21%) and Wendy houses (20%).

Comparing generations, just 14% of parents polled felt their children spend more time outside than they did at the same age; while 43% of those who believed their children weren't taking advantage of the great outdoors said computer games were to blame.

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When a family does get to spend some time in the garden however, it is estimated that they spend two hours and 18 minutes outside on an average weekend day in the summer. This falls to just 43 minutes in the winter. Meanwhile 52% of parents said they value the times they are able to spend outdoors with their children with 26% saying it makes their family calmer. A further 25% said their family laughs more.

Dawn Isaac, Garden Designer and Author of 101 Things for Kids to do Outside and Garden Crafts for Children, said: "Childhood is definitely changing, with technology distracting youngsters from all the fun of the great outdoors. While parents are trying to compete with computers by creating playgrounds in their own back gardens, perhaps a different approach is needed.

"Spending time outside as a family, playing together but also letting children create or plant their own outdoor spaces can ensure they enjoy the garden as much as their PlayStation."

Tim Downes, Senior Claims Manager, Lloyds Bank Insurance, added: "The data shows that families are investing more in their garden spaces as an alternative to modern technology.

"However, with the latest crime figures showing 777,000 thefts from gardens and outdoor spaces took place in the year to March 2014, parents should ensure their 'mini-playgrounds' are securely locked and covered by their home insurance policies.

"The value of our gardens is often more than we think once everything from tools and toys to bikes, furniture and flower beds are taken into consideration."

(JP)

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"New research has found that parents in Britain spend over £800 each year on their gardens – in an attempt to get their children to spend some time outdoors."