A recent report by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has revealed a concerning trend: children aged 10 to 12 are more likely to own a smartphone than to have mastered the skill of throwing a ball properly. The study found that two-thirds of children in this age group own a smartphone, while only 43 percent have achieved 'mastery' or 'near mastery' of an overarm throw.
Impact of Screen Time on Physical Development
Teachers interviewed by the think tank reported that children are arriving at school lacking 'core strength' due to excessive time spent on tablets and insufficient physical activity. The CSJ labelled these children as 'iPad kids,' noting that many are forgoing outdoor sports and play in favour of sedentary indoor activities with their devices.
The report warns that half of primary school children are not meeting the recommended 60 minutes of at least moderate-intensity physical activity per day. Meanwhile, over 40 percent of children under 13 now have social media profiles, a trend linked to rising child obesity and mental health issues.
Mental Health and Physical Skills Decline
NHS England data shows that one in six children aged eight to ten now has a probable mental health disorder, up from one in ten just six years ago. At the same time, fundamental physical skills are deteriorating. Fewer than one in five children aged six to nine have mastered all four basic motor skills: running, jumping, throwing, and catching.
One teacher shared: 'I've got two children who physically cannot sit on the carpet. They don't have core strength. One girl had never been to nursery; she sat on a corner sofa on an iPad, which affected her development.'
Research and Recommendations
A New Zealand study of around 6,000 children aged two to eight linked over 90 minutes of daily screen time to below-average performance in communication, writing, and numeracy, as well as increased behavioural issues and anxiety precursors.
However, the CSJ suggests that small changes can make a big difference. Replacing just 15 minutes of daily screen time with physical activity could help nearly 300,000 more primary school children reach healthy activity levels.
Last week, the Government confirmed plans to restrict or ban under-16s from using social media. The CSJ urges ministers to go further by introducing a 'national school activity' standard requiring every primary school to prioritise exercise. It also recommends that Ofsted include 'physical development' as a key evaluation area, and that the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care set a target for 75 percent of children to be sufficiently active by 2030.
