Kids today want to play offline on their own, but their parents have to let them. While the youngest gen is often labeled dependent on their tablets, new data from the Harris Poll reveals 45% of 8-12-year-olds prefer offline free play as a way to spend time with friends, compared to 25% who prefer online activities or 30% who chose group activities adults organize. Experts say these children “don’t get the chance to develop competence, confidence, and the ability to solve everyday problems” due to a lack of independence and unsupervised play that older gens had. Most of the children in the survey said that they aren’t allowed to be out in public at all without an adult—which is understandable—but more than a quarter aren’t even allowed to play unsupervised in their own front yard. Of course, there are plenty of non-tech toys toddlers and tweens have inside where they can play safely. However, nearly three-quarters of children surveyed agreed with the statement, “I would spend less time online if there were more friends in my neighborhood to play with in person.” (The Atlantic)
👀 Read more from YPulse: This Is What Tweens Say They Do for Fun
