A shocking 88 per cent of families are choosing the wrong kind of activity to keep the children occupied over Easter.
The majority of parents and relatives believe the most expensive days out will please their little cherubs - but recent research has found results to the contrary.
A survey by Born to Play revealed that parents would choose to go out for a meal, to a theme park or look around a museum with their children over the bank holiday weekend – with less than 12 per cent stating they would actually contemplate staying at home.
However, 69 per cent of children questioned between the ages of three and nine revealed the activity they would most like to do this Easter is play at home, sharing their own toys and games with family members and friends in their own back garden.
Peter Hatton, toy director at Martin Yaffe, said: “It is interesting to hear that today’s children still enjoy the simple things in life, choosing quality time at home over days out that often see them stuck in Bank Holiday queues and leaving both them and their parents tired and irritable. These results should be welcomed at a time when living costs are rising, allowing families to spend quality time together at low cost – whilst still keeping the children happy over Easter.”
Following the findings Born to Play is encouraging families to stay at home this Easter by bringing back traditional toys and pass times that will allow all the family to have fun in their own garden.
An overwhelming 79 per cent of parents surveyed revealed that their outdoor toy of choice from their youth was the space hopper. Other favourites included the hobby horse, scooter and paddling pool, all of which have been updated and revamped this year to offer a range that both adults and tots can enjoy together. The official top five outdoor toys as voted for by parents are as follows:
1. Space Hopper
2. Hobby Horse
3. Scooter
4. Gardening kit
5. Paddling Pool
Peter concludes: “Despite all of the hi-tech toys and gadgets available to children today, tradional old favourites are still extremely popular - particularly when it comes to parents getting involved with their children’s play time, teaching them how it was done in their day and having family fun at the same time!”
Games to try with your little monsters:
 Space Hopper race around the garden, try not to topple over!
Stage your own Grand National, each with a Hobby Horse
Have a Scoot off!
Plant some seeds in your very own garden, biggest sunflower wins!
Grab some water pistols and have the biggest water fight ever!
The survey was carried out across a random sample of UK 400 adults and 400 children aged between three to nine years old.
March 2008
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