Screen time worries top list
Their concerns are supported by recent research by Ofcom, which found that children in the UK (aged 5-15) now spend around 20 minutes more online, in a typical day, than they do in front of a TV set, with online time per day estimated at 2 hours 11 minutes.
However, sport is playing a key role in helping to get children offline, with initiatives such as Yorkshire Tea National Cricket Week - June 24-28 - in partnership with national children’s charity, Chance to Shine, demonstrating the positive health and wellbeing impacts of more people taking up the bat and ball.
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Hide AdThe study, that surveyed over 1,000 parents of children aged between 7-12, revealed other top parenting worries include: almost half worry about their child’s confidence, a third about mental health and a quarter about behaviour.
But parents cited sport as key to addressing these, citing sport as being key in helping their child to: spend less time on screens (60 per cent), be a team player/help make friends (57), improve confidence (51), improve behaviour (22) and problem solving (21).
The research, that also surveyed over 1,000 children aged 7-12, identified the top sporting role models, with Harry Kane coming out in first position (13 per cent), Jessica Ennis Hill in second (8) and Usain Bolt won again as the top.
Cricketer Jonny Bairstow dropped in to Headingley during National Cricket Week and said: “I really enjoyed the opportunity to come back to my home ground, Headingley.
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Hide Ad“It was made even more special by getting to surprise a group of cricket fans who love cricket just as much as I do.
“All of the children I met have used cricket to help them through various challenges they have faced in their earlier years. The skills that sport teaches children are invaluable.”
Faheem, 12, from Leeds, struggled with behavioural issues but found a natural talent for sport allowed him to develop both on and off the field.
Laura Cordingley, the chief executive of Chance to Shine, said: “At Chance to Shine, we see the amazing impact that sport, and in particular cricket, can have on children across the country.