Children of primary-school age spend more free time playing sports and socialising than they do watching television or using the internet, following a dip in physical activity during the Covid-19 pandemic, a new study reveals.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/gw
Español
es
Los niños suizos siguen prefiriendo el deporte a ver la televisión, según un estudio
With pandemic restrictions in place at the height of the pandemic, children were unable to do certain leisure activities and the use of digital media increased as a result of distance learning. The lockdown, however, had no long-term impact on the habits of children, according to the latest MIKE (Media, interaction, children and parents) survey released on Thursday by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW).
All forms of non-digital games and sports such as football or cycling remain the favourite activities of children aged 6-13, just as they were in previous years, said ZHAW.
Watching television remains the most popular digital activity for this age group. About half of the children watch it daily, for about half an hour, according to parents. Streaming services such as Netlfix and online videos on YouTube are becoming increasingly popular.
Video games are also popular: 77% of boys and 51% of girls play at least once a week. Time spent playing these games generally increases with age, before reaching a plateau around age 12-13.
TikTok a digital favourite
More than half of the children surveyed had their own mobile phones, with ownership rising to three-quarters among 12-13 year-olds. While the youngest children used their phones mainly for entertainment via music and games, from the age of 10 onwards, children used a wider range of functions, such as communicating on social networks.
The Chinese app TikTok was the most frequently used social platform, followed by Snapchat and Instagram. WhatsApp is the preferred messaging service among 9-12 year-olds.
The representative ZHAW survey was conducted in 2021 and 2022 with 1,000 children aged 6 to 13 and some 500 parents in the country’s three main language regions.
Popular Stories
More
Climate adaptation
Why Switzerland is among the ten fastest-warming countries in the world
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Rhine could warm by up to 4°C by 2100, scientists warn
This content was published on
The water temperature of the Rhine River could rise by up to 4.2° degrees Celsius by the end of the century due to the warming planet, scientists warn.
This content was published on
The Federal Council wants to explore the possibilities of joining the European Union’s €800-billion rearmament programme without compromising Swiss neutrality.
Defence Minister Pfister stresses importance of Swiss mission in Balkans
This content was published on
During a visit to the Balkans region last week, Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister met Swisscoy peacekeeping troops in Kosovo.
Premiere for Swiss Air Force on French National Day
This content was published on
On July 14, the Swiss Air Force will take part in the traditional air parade in Paris to mark the French bank holidays with an F/A-18 fighter jet. This is a first for Switzerland.
Swiss launch competition for memorial to Nazi victims
This content was published on
The victims of Nazi Germany are to be commemorated on the Casinoterrasse in Bern. A competition will be held to determine what the site will look like.
This content was published on
The cantonal police of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland have arrested and convicted five cocaine dealers in Chur within a week.
This content was published on
The Swiss business umbrella organisation Economiesuisse and the employers' association broadly support the package of agreements negotiated with the European Union.
Swiss kids still prefer outside play to smartphones
This content was published on
Nearly one in two Swiss primary school kids owns a smartphone, but their favourite activities remain playing outside, sports and meeting friends.
Why global elites trust Switzerland with their children
This content was published on
When it comes to sending your kids to summer camp abroad, Switzerland is an obvious choice, at least for those who can afford to pay top dollar.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.