Springfree Trampoline has always been all about safe, family fun. Did you know that our trampolines were developed by a father of three who wanted a safer piece of backyard play equipment for his kids to play on? So it was with interest that we learned about The Australian State of Play Report – a recent study commissioned by Milo that endeavored to understand more about unstructured active play in Aussie kids aged 8-12 years.
Across all three audience groups surveyed – grandparents, parents and children – all recognized the importance of unstructured, active play. The majority of parents (95%) and grandparents (99%) agree that playtime is not only important but actually essential for children’s development. So much so, that both parents and grandparents believe that for children, play is more important than academics. Do you agree?
Here are some other interesting findings from the survey:
* Parents recognize their kids’ overconsumption of technology with more than half (59%) saying children have too much ‘plugged’ playtime.
* The majority (66%) of children say that outdoor play is their favorite activity – not technology. But many parents believed kids prefer ‘plugged playtime’ to other playtime activities. In actual fact, more than half (55%) of children stated they would like to spend more time playing with their parents.
* The next barrier for playtime is lack of inspiration. More than one-third (37%) of children say they’ve run out of ideas for play. And, interestingly, nearly two-thirds (63%) of parents believe children have forgotten how to amuse themselves without electronic devices.
* There is no doubt that parents and grandparents are certain of the role of play in their children’s development with vast majority of parents (95%) and grandparents (96%) stating that playtime is a great way for children to learn social skills.
* Four in five (89%) parents also believe that playtime develops a child’s imagination and creativity more than any other activity.
* Some 76% of Australian parents and 84% of grandparents feel that playtime enables them to connect with their children and grandchildren. Further, two-thirds (66%) of parents want to spend more time playing with their children.
Dr Paula Barrett, one of the world’s leading child psychologists and a professor at the University of Queensland and Australian National University, believes revitalizing playtime in Australia is “critical” and especially important for the 8-12 years age group as “it is a time when they are pushing known boundaries, forming habits and shaping their identity”.
“The current generation of children is crying out for more free time to spend with their loved ones playing and having fun in nature and unstructured environments,” she says.
“This important research draws our attention to the pressure that multiple, structured activities place on children and parents alike, those of which consequently reduce the time for relaxed expressions of love, creativity and play. We have an ethical responsibility to prevent future generations of children from developing stunted social and emotional skills due to an over-exposure of ‘screen-time’ (computer, television, electronic games) and a lack of real life interaction with living beings such as family members, friends and pets in natural environments.”
With a Springfree Trampoline in the backyard, we know our customers have one of the safest, quality pieces of play equipment around and we hope it helps brings adults and children together for memorable family fun time. So, does your family ‘play’ enough?
At HOMEFIELD we would love to help your family create some of life’s fondest memories providing you several options for backyard play. Let HOMEFIELD show you how to make the most of your outdoor living experience. A well-appointed backyard is not only the favorite gathering spot, but also a place where friendships blossom and families bond. With industry leading brands such as Springfree Trampoline, Rainbow Play Systems and Goalsetter Basketball Systems. Our dedication to quality and safety is unparalleled and our range of products and service is unrivaled. For those that appreciate the value of investing in the spirit of fun, there is no better choice than HOMEFIELD. Come visit one of our two HOMEFIELD showrooms at 1975 N IH 35 in New Braunfels TX or our Corpus Christi TX location at 1126 South Padre Island Drive and choose your backyard fun!
