The vast majority of Chinese schoolchildren had chosen to stay home and surf the Internet during the summer holidays rather than play outside, according to a survey done by a local Chinese newspaper.
A girl surfs a blog website at an internet cafe in Changzhi, northern China's Shanxi Province October 9, 2006. [Reuters] |
The poll of 107 children aged 4 to 15 has found that just 5 percent chose to do outdoor physical activities during the holidays and only 9 percent took part in the summer recreational and learning camps.
A new school-year began across China on Monday.
"Five years ago, when the Internet was not so popular among students, they preferred going out during summer holidays. Nowadays they prefer to stay at home and play Internet games," a medical official said.
About 14 percent of China's 20 million Internet users under 18 are classified as computer addicts, some media reported.
In Shanghai last month, local authorities launched an experimental summer camp for 40 youngsters to try to wean them from their online addiction.
The government and the parents are also worried about growing obesity in its children, thanks to the sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy Western-style fast food. The government recently instructed schools to make dancing lessons compulsory in a bid to shed some pounds.
