Buttercups, Bumble Bees and Beatles. New Research Reveals Our Children Are Out Of Touch With Nature
Playing outside and discovering the world of nature is part of growing up – or is it? Do children still push aside logs to see what’s crawling underneath? Are daisy chains part of playground life or a relic from the past?
Children are spending more time indoors than outside and they are missing out on exploring the natural world. In fact, research found that 1 in 9 British children have not visited a beach, park or forest in twelve months, and on average a British child only spends 4 hours a week playing in the great outdoors.
This is why Sudocrem set up the award-winning Play More campaign, an initiative designed to encourage parents and children to get back in touch with nature. As part of the campaign, Sudocrem carried out a survey, asking 200 children between the ages of 4 to 8 years old to identify some of the creepy crawlies in Britain. The survey revealed that 89% of children were unable to recognise a butterfly, 51% didn’t know what a bumblebee looks like and 29% didn’t realise that bees make honey.
Children are not only unable to identify some of the most distinctive insects, but they are also missing out on the adventure which comes with playing outside. 59% of those surveyed admitted that they had never climbed a tree, 89% didn’t know what a buttercup was and 77% couldn’t identify a sunflower.
According to children’s TV presenter, naturalist and Play More ambassador Chris Packham, parents should be encouraging their children to explore the natural environment around them. “I was very fortunate when I was a child because I was encouraged to interact with the outdoors – looking under rocks and searching under logs and hedges to find creepy crawlies. If you just open your eyes, you’ll see that there is an incredible natural world out there waiting to be discovered.”
Teva’s OTC Director, Ryan Ruscoe said, “Outdoor play is an important part of a child’s learning and development process. As technology continues to become more of a presence in our children’s lives, we have a duty to promote a balanced, healthy lifestyle and get kids out there having fun, discovering the world around them and learning more about nature.”
To help you have fun outside with your kids Sudocrem have given me a fantastic Play More Adventure Kit to giveaway to one lucky winner. Inside the pack you will find:
For your chance to win simply enter your details into the Gleam App below.
Good Luck x
Win a Sudocrem Play More Adventure Kit
Disclosure – Sudocrem have kindly provided the prize.
That sudocrem adventure kit looks great!!
Just love game kits and subscription boxes,
This sounds like a fantastic selection of products xxx
We have been going and playing outside more due to this lovely weather.
My kids love being outdoors. It’s time to put down the tablets and go on more adventures!
What a fantastic prize, my children would love this. We love going outside in adventures
Very sad statistics, luckily both my boys love being outside.
lovely giveaway
What a super prize – I would love this for my grandchildren.
Great bundle to keep my grandchildren busy
great giveaway
My lot would love this
This is such a lovely idea. Our family are already wildlife mad – we have lots of hedgehog visitors so we feed them and provide housing in our garden.
My in-laws have a hedgehog or two and L loves visiting and feeding them in the evening!
This looks like a wonderful giveaway.
Amazing giveaway…❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💞
This looks like a fun prize. Thanks for running this comp.
would love this for my grandkids
great give away, looks totally fab.
This would suit youngest grandson, he loves the outdoors
Just asked the older grandchildren – YES – they still look under logs & make daisy chains when sitting on the grass in summer,
and I know the little ones would love this kit!
Brilliant! I love that they are still exploring and making daisy chains.
oh we would have hours of fun with this outdoors. My grand daughter is bug mad
So perfect then. Good luck x
Great giveaway my kids would love this
Oh wow this would be brilliant to explore the outdoors with my little girl Heidi 🙂
Looks fun, my kids love to be outside
Fab prize, great for the summer holidays
Great way to spend an afternoon outside 🙂
Definitely!
Another great prize, thank you!
Looks brilliant, thank you
This looks truly brilliant!
this looks fab, have to say!
Fab prize, good luck everyone!
Thanks for running the great competition and for the fantastic prize. Good luck everyone!
This would be great for my daughter to take on her fairy hunting adventures.
We go fairy hunting a lot as well. Good luck
This is a really lovely set and a great idea to get kids outside
Anything to get kids outside is good in my book
lOOKS FAB
Lovely giveaway my little grandson loves being outside looking for bugs and crawlers . Thanks for the chance to win
It’s a great kit for little explorers
What a brilliant giveaway
Looks a great kit! what summer fun – the dog would have her eye on the Frisbee though ! she cannot resist
I’ll admit I’m rather jealous of the winner, my boy would love this kit. I think letting the dog have the frisbee is fair, dogs need to be treated sometimes as well 🙂