The Outdoors Parent

These results of a recent survey of British kids are really super sad. Can’t imagine the situation in the US is much better.

TOP TEN THINGS (UK) CHILDREN AGED 5 TO 13 CAN DO:

1 Work a DVD player – 67 per cent

2 Log onto the internet – 58 per cent

3 Play computer games on games console (wii, Xbox or similar) – 50 per cent

4 Make a phone call – 46 per cent

5 Use a handheld games console (Nintendo DSi, PSP or similar) – 45 per cent

6 Use an iPhone (or smartphone) – 42 per cent

7 Work Sky Plus – 41 per cent

8 Send a text message – 38 per cent

9 Search for clips on YouTube – 37 per cent

10 Use an iPad (or tablet computer) – 31 per cent

TOP TEN THINGS UK CHILDREN AGED 5 TO 13 CAN’T DO:

1 Recognise three types of butterfly – 91 per cent

2 Repair a puncture – 87 per cent

3 Tie a reef knot – 83 per cent

4 Read a map – 81 per cent

5 Build a camp fire – 78 per cent / Put up a tent 78.5 per cent

6 Spot a blackbird, sparrow or robin – 71 per cent

7 Make papier mâché – 72 per cent

8 Make a cup of tea – 65 per cent

9 Build a den – 63 per cent

10 Climb a tree – 59 per cent

See here for the report.