Nowadays children prefer to play indoors rather than outdoors: 'There is no one my age on the streets anyway'

Playing football, rollerblading or just hanging out on the playground? For many children and young people, this is no longer self-evident. Only one in three (29 percent) is outside almost every day to play, exercise or relax. This is evident from a new survey by UNICEF Netherlands.

While most children still go outside every week, the number of children who prefer to stay indoors is growing. And that is not because they are not allowed to, but because indoors is often simply more attractive.

Many children who rarely go outside do so of their own free will . They indicate that they would rather play games, watch TV or sit on their phones. “Nobody wants to do anything except play games,” says one participant. And when there is time and space to go outside, it is not always attractive enough.

For example, a child from the eastern Netherlands says: “There is no good artificial grass field here.” Another: “I can go outside, but my neighborhood is mainly populated by elderly people. There are no children my age to play with.”

UNICEF sees this trend as worrying . In the eastern Netherlands, 71 percent of children say they prefer to be indoors. Nationally, that is 63 percent.

“Playing outside is not a luxury, it is a child’s right,” says Suzanne Laszlo, director of UNICEF Netherlands. “If children say they stay inside because there is nothing or no one outside, then that is not a conscious choice. That is a loss.”

According to Laszlo, municipalities and adults need to look more closely at the outside world through the eyes of young people. "For children, the street is what the living room is for adults: a place to chill, see friends and get rid of energy. If we don't design that space properly, we lose something fundamental."

What do children want? That varies considerably. Girls often prefer places to sit, such as benches (61 percent versus 48 percent of boys), while boys often find sports areas important (58 percent versus 39 percent of girls). Wi-Fi and shelter from the sun and rain are also high on the wish list, for all young people.

94 percent of children have never talked to the municipality about playgrounds. One in three would like to do so, especially children aged 10 and 11.

Laszlo sees a clear opportunity for municipalities here. "Children know best what works in their neighbourhood. If you involve them seriously, you get better outdoor spaces and you give them a voice in their living environment."

It is important that these spaces are furnished as diversely as possible. "Not every child wants the same thing. So you need different places: for young and old, for sports and rest, for boys and girls. Only then will children have the opportunity to really go outside all year round."

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