Many children prefer TV and computer games to sports

Television, computer games and a laugh with mates. Add a couple of tinnies and a pizza and it sounds like a great night in.

But it’s not adults who are slobbing around, instead a third of UK children prefer to do this in their spare time, never playing any sport.

According to a poll of 2000 UK parents with children aged five to eleven, 40 per cent of kids would rather laze and play computer games with just 28 per cent getting their minimum of one hour exercise per day.

The findings also discovered that just 36 per cent of children are doing two hours of PE each week.

Spokesperson for Mookie Toys, who conducted the research, Guy Orr, said: “These findings are particularly shocking because while two thirds of children are participating in sports outside of school, this still means millions aren’t.

“The implications on their future health are huge – they won’t be learning the importance of keeping fit and active.

“It really is up to the parents to do anything they can to get their children active. Even just playing a bat and ball game, such as Tailball, in the garden or park can really help to develop a child’s sporting confidence and abilities.”

But parents are also to blame for their children’s lack of exercise, with just four in ten actively encouraging their child to take part in regular sporting activity.