Is your child happier away from electronic gadgets?

It has been revealed that 87% of parents across the UK believe that their children are happier when they are away from their “beloved” electronic gadgets. It has also been recorded that 40% of children spend more than one hour a day in front of electronic screens.

To confirm these statistics, leading child psychologist, Linda Blair emphasises that ‘excessive time using screen-based disorders associated with attention problems, low mood and some psychological disorders’.

Here at MummyPages we were shocked at the above findings and wonder are these figures going to continue worsening?

Further research carried out has found that in order to boost a child’s mood and psychological health, a variety of outdoor activities and interacting with loved ones is the best medicine.

The research carried out by Park Resorts, the UK’s leading holiday park operator also found that while on holidays, 90% of respondents noticed that their children spent less time on their electronic gadgets and more time playing outside and interacting with other. The study confirmed that parents of these children noticed a direct result in their persona and more contented moods.

Park Resorts have put together its top tips on keeping the holiday feeling alive at home.

Make time for outdoor play – even in the colder months!
If you don’t have a garden of your own, walk to the local park or invest in bikes for the whole family and make a bike ride a weekly activity
Go retro and dig out board games to play with family and friends at least one evening a week – encouraging interaction and learning and they may even prefer it to the PlayStation.
Move any electronics, including TVs from children’s bedrooms and replace with books – this will be a lot more relaxing before bed.
Encourage extracurricular creative activities with your child. This doesn’t have to cost money, it is something you can do at home with arts and crafts or karaoke or why not enrol the children in a local drama club or sports team?
Limit the use of all electronic screen based activities to just one hour per day and if the children are craving technology switch the X-box to the Wii!
Try and encourage exercise out of school hours - whether it is cycling or swimming at the local leisure centre or think of trying more unusual sports such as ice-skating or fencing, you never know, you may have a future Olympian on your hands!
Encourage interaction with varied groups of friends, family and neighbours