Nine in ten children (90 per cent) spend at least one hour a week on screen-based activities, with a rise in children spending more than 20 hours a week, according to new data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
While the percentage of children aged 5-14 years using screens remained the same (90 per cent) compared with 2017-18, the amount of time has increased.
Michelle Ducat, ABS head of education statistics, said: “Of children doing screen-based activities, 40 per cent were spending 10-19 hours, but there has been an increase in the percentage of children using screens for more than 20 hours a week, from 16 per cent to 24 per cent.
“Reading for pleasure was considerably less popular than screen-based activities, with 72 per cent of children reading, down from 79 per cent in 2017-18. Around one third of these children read for two hours or less a week.”
Participation in screen-based activities remained constant across age groups, but reading for pleasure was less popular with older age groups (63 per cent of 12 to 14-year-olds read books compared with 76 per cent of 5 to 8-year-olds).
In 2021-22, children participating in a creative activity fell to 59 per cent from 63 per cent in 2017-18.
“Arts and crafts were the most popular creative activity among children, with 39 per cent of children participating at least once a week. This was followed by singing or playing musical instruments and creative writing, both with 19 per cent of children involved in these activities,” Ms Ducat said.
Creative activities were less popular for older children (55 per cent of 12 to 14-year-olds participating in a creative activity compared with 60 per cent of 5 to 8-year-olds).
Creative activities were also more popular among girls (67 per cent) compared with boys (52 per cent).
Cultural and creative activities offers insights about participation in, and attendance at, cultural and creative activities and events for adults and children.
Michelle Ducat ABS head of Education Statistics.
Grab 1.
We found nine in ten children aged 5 to 14 years were doing screen-based activities for at least one hour a week, and this was outside of their school hours.
Grab 2.
However, the amount of time that children are actually spending on screens has increased. Children who spend 20 hours or more a week using screens has increased from 16% in 2017-18 to 24% in 2021-22.
Grab 3.
Reading for pleasure was less popular than screen-based activities, with 72% of children reading down from 79% in 2017-18.
Grab 4.
Reading was really popular in young children, so 76% of 5- to 8-year-olds read, compared with 63% of 12- to 14-year-olds.
Grab 5.
We measured participation in creative activities like drama, singing, playing a musical instrument, and dancing. These dropped from 63% in 2017-18 to 59% in 2021-22.
Grab 6.
Arts and crafts were the most popular among children, with 39% participating at least once a week. This was followed up by singing or playing a musical instrument and creative writing. All of these were 19%.
Grab 7.
We found that creative activities were more popular among girls, with 67% undertaking a creative activity. Compared with boys which had 52% looking at a creative activity.
Grab 8.
Creative activities were less popular with older children. So, 55% of 12- to 14-year-olds participated in the creative activity, compared with 60% of 5 to 8 year olds.
