Soccer Players More Likely To Be Outdoors Then Watch TV
Summer is nearly over and youth soccer players all across America have been playing soccer since school has been out. With soccer camps in full swing, many players have enjoyed improving their techniques and enhancing their skill level. Youth soccer players are usually eager to get outdoors and play with the soccer ball, more than most typical children under 18, who consume more movies (53%) and television (52%) during the summer.
While all kids seemingly use social media more during the summer months, youth soccer players, especially the elite ones, are not using their summer months to binge on electronic media during their summer vacation. Even if you are just driving around America’s vastly different neighborhoods this summer, it has been virtually impossible to not drive by a soccer field teaming with kids kicking the soccer ball. Playing soccer has never been more popular and, yes, active young soccer players are usually healthier than their couch lounging counterparts.
Is all this outdoor soccer activity during the summer months because of their parents? Are parents more likely to loosen the reigns on spending time in front of the TV or gaming consoles during summer months – opting for electronic babysitters to fight off their kids’ boredom?
Harris Poll® has just completed a survey of 2,220 adults who were asked questions online between June 17 and 22, 2015.
While a majority of those without kids at home say rules should not be loosened during the summer (62%), those actually dealing with an active brood feel a bit differently. Half (50%) of those with children under 18 at home say they do loosen the reins on media consumption during summer months. Three in ten (30%) say they stick to their guns and keep things consistent, while 20% don’t have any rules for their children’s media consumption to begin with.
Does age make a difference? Yes, rules do change for summer media and age does mater.
Those with children ages 6 and up are more likely to loosen the rules than those with kids 5 and under (53% ages 13-17 & 60% ages 6-12 vs. 38% ages 5 and under). Thank goodness.
Whether or not people have kids at home themselves, everyone’s got an opinion on the matter. Among the childless and those with children under age 18 at home, just over one-quarter (27%) say rules should be loosened and 11% say there shouldn’t be any rules to begin with. Women without kids are more likely than their male counterparts to say rules should be loosened (30% vs. 23%, respectively); however, men are more likely to say the rules shouldn’t exist in the first place (15% vs. 7%, respectively).
So are kids more likely to ride a bike or watch something on TV?
Despite majorities of parents citing their children watching more television and movies during the summertime, it’s safe to say some other, non-media-centric pastimes, still rank high on kids’ summer to-do lists. Parents select playing outdoors (75%) and swimming (71%) as among their children’s most enjoyed summer activities. Watching television (54%) ranks third, followed by riding a bike (51%), playing video games (46%), going to the movies (44%), and reading (40%). Of course, soccer parents know that playing soccer is their kids favorite activity.
Most kids today have an enormous amount of technology at their disposal. If they don’t currently have it, they’re certainly begging for it. But exactly when are parents willing to provide or allow these devices to their children? It depends on the device, of course.
By 11 years old, over half of kids are gaming away on either a handheld device (57%) or a console device (54%), as reported by those who have a child under 18 in the household. By 14 years old, over half have a TV in their bedroom (57%), are puttering away on a tablet computer (55%), and are singing along to a digital music player (52%). And finally, by 17 years old, over half of kids get their hands on a mobile phone or smartphone (54%). With devices like smartphones and tablets in hand, it may come as no surprise that just 35% of kids have an eReader by age 17.
What is the best choice? Well, if you are an elite player with dreams of becoming a professional soccer player, the choice is clear. Playing with the soccer ball – on your own, with your team or just with your friends. As the youth soccer season starts up all across the USA, kids will be training with their youth soccer club teams during the week, playing games in soccer leagues on the weekends — and showing off their new skills learned over the summer!
