Kids (Not) Out For Summer

Climbing trees, making daisy chains and riding our bikes in the street are firmly a thing of the past when it comes to children’s summer fun as youngsters stay inside.



 In a new survey commissioned by The Caravan Club, 80 per cent of adults stated that their children spend less time outside playing football, ‘tag’ or riding their bicycles than they did when they were kids. It’s no surprise that over 70 per cent of adults stated that their kids would much prefer to play on their computer games or tablets than head outside, but over 75 per cent of the parents surveyed stated that the main reason for their kids staying indoors this summer is that they (the parents) aren’t able to head outside with them.

Over 50% of respondents said that spending time with parents and siblings would get the children outside more enjoying the summer fun and activities they had as children. Over 40% said while they do play with their children they would like to be able to do more.

TV presenter, explorer and author Simon Reeve has teamed up with The Caravan Club - champions of the great outdoors – to encourage families to get outside this summer and spend more time together as a family, with the new Big LittleTent Festival.

The inaugural Big Little Tent Festival takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, on the night of the 30th August, and aims to bring families together by encouraging them to have a festival in their own gardens; camp out together, become Woodland Trust Nature Detectives, cook together over a campfire (or barbecue) and spend time enjoying each other’s company.  Away from the modern day distractions of tablets, televisions and video games, but with the conveniences of home all close at hand.

Those signing up to the festival experience at http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/BLTF are able to register for a free Festival Pack that includes wristbands, bunting and activity packs, and enter a prize draw to win a European family camping holiday with The Caravan Club.  Recipes and music festival playlists are also available to download on the website.  The toasting of marshmallows and reading of stories around the campfire remains entirely optional.

Reeve said:
“As an explorer and a father myself, I am passionate about the fact that kids need to get outside, spend time as a family and enjoy the great outdoors.”