Only 29 percent of Dutch children spend time outside daily: UNICEF

Only 29 percent of Dutch children and teenagers between the ages of 10 and 17 go outside every day to play, do sports, or “chill,” UNICEF reported after a new survey among the age group. This needs to improve, according to the children’s rights organization. Director Suzanne Laszlo called it a loss when children do not go outside to enjoy their free time. “Playing outside is not a luxury - it’s a child’s right.”

In the survey, children said they did not go outside often because there was no one to play with or because they found it boring. Indoors was frequently more attractive. There they could play games, watch TV, or use their phones. Market research agency No Ties interviewed over a thousand children between the ages of 10 and 17 on UNICEF’s behalf.

The digital world offers an attractive alternative, UNICEF said. “Full of games, social media, and entertainment within easy reach.” Outdoor spaces should therefore be made more fun for children and young people, Laszlo said. She called the street and the field an important place for children to relax, exercise, and see friends. “If we forget these spaces, we lose something fundamental in their development and in our society.”

Different children want different things from being outside. The survey showed that girls often want benches and places to sit, while boys regularly look for a sports area. Both groups want Wi-Fi and a canopy to protect them from the sun or rain outside. Laszlo believes that municipalities should design outdoor spaces as diversely as possible.

Furthermore, the UNICEF director encouraged municipalities to actively talk to children and young people about places to play or chill. “Only then can we stimulate playing and chilling in the neighborhood 365 days a year,” she said.