Children report that smartphones help them have positive outdoor experiencesIncreasing use of smartphones among children is often perceived to be a cause of decreased time spent outdoors. However, some research, although quite limited, suggests that smartphones can support children’s active outdoor play. Overall, very little is known about how children’s engagement with the outdoors is impacted by their smartphone use. This study sought to clarify how smartphones are used by children in the outdoors and how they impact children’s outdoor experiences.
The study was conducted with students in grades 5-8 (age 11-15 years) at a mix of rural, suburban, and urban schools in Denmark. Participating schools also varied in their socioeconomic status (SES), with most being ranked as medium SES. Data collection occurred during children’s school day, however, the study aimed to gather data regarding children’s outdoor experiences during non-school time. Initial data collection centered on interviews with 35 children from three schools. The interviews were conducted in focus groups of two to three children and aimed to explore their smartphone use when outdoors. Interview responses were analyzed with qualitative coding methods. Findings from the interviews were used to develop a questionnaire aimed at further exploring children’s outdoor smartphone use. The questionnaire was administered to 1,148 children in 11 schools. Questionnaire responses were statistically analyzed.
Nearly all children who participated in the study reported having a smartphone and the majority (63%) indicated that they always have their smartphone with them when outdoors. While rates of smartphone use did not vary by gender, a significant difference was detected between grades, with older children using their smartphone more than younger children. Results revealed three main findings regarding children’s outdoor use of smartphones. The first finding indicated that “smartphones increase a sense of security when outdoors.” Children reported that because of their smartphone they were able to venture into new places while maintaining contact with parents and friends, which provided a feeling of security when outdoors. Girls especially indicated feeling safer outdoors when they had their smartphone. Therefore, “smartphones can be viewed as an important asset in children’s outdoor lives, because it provides a safety line for parents that increases the opportunities for children’s independent outdoor behaviors.” The second finding was that “smartphones empower children to socialize outdoors.” Most children reported using their smartphone outdoors to stay in contact and interact with friends and nearly half of children also reported using social media while outside. The final finding revealed that “smartphones empower children to mold outdoor experiences.” Children reported that using their smartphone allowed them to positively shape their experience of the outdoors. For instance, children commonly listened to music on their smartphone, which they felt made their experience more enjoyable and relaxing. This finding suggests that “smartphone use may have the capacity to alter the ambience of children’s spaces and thereby support valuable experiences, which may promote children’s affinity for the outdoors.”
Overall, the study highlights the high level of dependence children have on their smartphones when outdoors, which increases with children’s age. Findings suggest that smartphones do not detract from children’s outdoor experiences but may actually enable children to positively experience the outdoors by increasing their sense of security, supporting social interaction, and allowing children to shape their own experiences. The researchers contend that “children’s affinity for the digital world should be reconsidered: it is not ‘all bad’ but should instead be regarded as a condition in modern children’s lives and an asset to embrace in future strategies of actively engaging children in the outdoors.”
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