12-11-12
* While the likelihood of participating in organised sport or dancing did not differ significantly between young children aged 5-7 years and those aged 8-11 years, it did differ for older children.
* Too much technology?
Spending a lot of time watching TV, DVDs or videos is associated with lower participation in organised sport or dancing. In 2009, children who spent 40 or more hours in the fortnight watching TV, DVDs or videos were 10% less likely to participate in organised sport or dancing when compared with children who spent less than 20 hours watching.
However, children who spent between 20-39 hours watching were just as likely to participate in organised sport or dancing as those who spent less time watching.
Further, not using the internet at home had a negative impact on participation. Children who did not use the internet at home in the previous 12 months prior to interview were 19% less likely to participate in organised sport or dancing when compared with children who used the internet at home. This could be because the absence of the internet at home can be indicative of financial constraints, which also impact on participation. For more information see ‘Children of the digital revolution’ in Australian Social Trends, June 2011 (cat. no. 4102.0).
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features40Jun+2012
* A recent study found that only 40% of Australian children aged 9–13 years met the physical activity recommendations and only 7% of those children met the screen-time recommendations. There is also some evidence that children who experience socioeconomic disadvantage have lower rates of physical activity and higher rates of sedentary behaviours, including screen-time
http://www.deakin.edu.au/health/cpan/reports-downloads/01-summaries/files/Children%20who%20meet%20recommendations%20for%20physical%20activity%20and%20screen-time%20despite%20socioeconomic%20disadvantage.pdf
.