Clean Machine Vs Mucky Pup!

With the subject of child obesity in the news because of Jamie Oliver’s school dinners campaign, a new report has revealed that outdoor play has seriously declined in popularity and that child development is also at risk due to decline in 'playing out'.

A fear of getting their clothes dirty is preventing British children enjoying the great outdoors with experts warning this could have a devastating effect on their development. Experts who compiled the 'Positively Dirty' report, which looks at parents' and children's attitudes towards getting dirty, found that pressure to wear the 'right' clothes is also contributing to the emergence of a new generation of children who value being clean at the expense of having fun and experiencing life first hand.

The research conducted by independent experts on behalf of Persil, found that a third (33%) of kids avoid playing outside in order to keep cherished clothes and trainers clean.

And, despite eight out of ten parents saying they wish their children would play outside more often, nearly three quarters (72%) of the children claimed they regularly avoid messy indoor and outdoor play because they worry about getting told off by their parents for getting their clothes dirty.

The 'Positively Dirty' report also identified four different approaches to 'getting dirty'.

Clean Machine:  These children really don't like getting their clothes or hands dirty.  They prefer indoor entertainment and will go to great lengths to avoid playing outside.  They dislike the feeling of wearing dirty clothes and would rather play video games or watch television than mess about in the back garden.

Dirt Dodger: These children are very good at dodging dirt and will make up imaginative excuses to avoid playing outside. They often need a bit of a push to get them off the sofa but once they're outside they do enjoy themselves. However, they will take great care not to get their clothes and trainers dirty so can often be found sitting on the sidelines rather than getting stuck in.

Mud Magnet:  These children love the fresh air and really enjoy playing outdoors.  They don't actively search out dirty activities but they seem to attract dirt and inevitably end up getting dirtier than the other kids in the park.

Mucky Pup:  These children live to get dirty and will play outside at every available opportunity. They like nothing more than jumping in puddles and climbing trees and will go out of their way to get dirty even if they know they're not supposed to. They are rarely seen without mucky clothes and hands.

Sofa Vs garden
According to the research, a worrying one in four kids actually dislike getting their hands or clothes dirty, opting instead for 'clean', instant entertainment.  When asked about how they spend their free time, watching TV (79%), playing video games (69%) and texting or talking to friends (33%) came out as the top everyday activities; ahead of activities like mucking around in the garden (31%), playing a team sport (22%) or riding a bike (17%).

Joint author and leading parenting expert, Dr Pat Spungin of Raisingkids.co.uk explains:  "The best way for a child to learn is to experience things themselves.  It is concerning that today's kids are so worried about getting their clothes dirty that they are cutting themselves off from activities which are vital for their development ".

Co-author of the report Professor Frank Furedi, University of Kent, comments 

"The report clearly identifies a worrying trend which is leading to kids opting out of messy play activities.  This is concerning on many levels as it can effect the development of a child's imagination, their creativity and the way they interact with others.  As a worse case scenario we will end up with a generation who have learnt about life through a TV screen rather than experiencing it.  It is essential we act immediately to avoid our children growing up on the sofa."

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