Too much TV

ROBINSONS – the soft drink makers - have launched a competition aimed at tackling the 'indoor culture' induced by modern technology and lapped up by our kids like a carton of ice cold juice.

Robinsons spoke to 1000 parents and their children, aged between six and eleven to discover how children spend their time at home. The survey came to the obvious conclusion that children are spending lots of time – yes you guessed it - in front of screens.

Despite the whole host of arty activities open to children, such as half term workshops and play days, most parents and children seem to be in favour of televisions and computers as forms of entertainment.

According to the poll, a staggering 71 per cent of children spend as many as eight hours in front of a television or computer during a weekend, and the same proportion said they spent hardly any time on creative activities. Further still, only seven per cent showed any aspiration to follow a career in art or design. In spite of this, two thirds of children (67 per cent) said that art was one of their favourite subjects at school, and 96 per cent of parents believe in the importance of maintaining traditional childhood pastimes like art and crafts.

Perhaps then, it's not the amount of time spent watching television that is the problem but the fact children aren't watching the right types of programmes. Ninety two per cent of parents said it was shows such as 'Art Attack' and 'Blue Peter Makes' that inspired them to be creative, yet 61 per cent of children said that they couldn't name a presenter of an art show on television. This will hopefully be remedied by Art Attack presenter Neil Buchanan's involvement in Robinsons' campaign.

To tackle this 'indoor culture', Robinsons Double Concentrate is launching a competition for children to make a 'squash monster' from a double concentrate bottle. The campaign is supported and judged by Buchanan and former children's television presenter and current Dancing on Ice star, Laura Hamilton. To enter or for more information visit www.robinsonsfun.co.uk.