South Limburg children's health report reveals screen time concerns and exercise gaps
A new study by GGD Zuid-Limburg highlights key trends in children's health, diet, and lifestyle. While most kids eat breakfast daily, screen time and lack of exercise raise concerns for parents and policymakers in the region.
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Survey Participants | 14,135 parents (out of 34,000 invited) |
| Daily Breakfast | 95% of children |
| Daily Fruit Consumption | 79% of children |
| Daily Vegetable Consumption | 66% of children |
| Water/Unsweetened Tea | 92% drink at least 5 days a week |
| Daily Sugary Drinks | 1 in 5 children |
| Sports Club Membership | 75% of children aged 4+ |
| Daily Exercise (1+ hour) | 20% of children |
| Daily Outdoor Play | 33% of children |
| Daily Screen Time (0-4 yrs) | 50% watch screens daily; 25% for over 30 mins |
| Daily Screen Time (4-12 yrs) | 42% spend over 1 hour daily |
| Smartphone Ownership (8-12) | Over 50% |
| Social Media Use (8-12) | Over 80% |
| Parental Screen Time Rules | 79% set rules; 41% adhere to them |
GGD Zuid-Limburg is the regional public health service responsible for monitoring and improving the health and well-being of residents, including children. This report helps inform local policies and community health initiatives to address identified trends.
Read the full translated article below
How are children in South Limburg doing?
The health, leisure activities, and lifestyle of our youngest residents in focus.
For the first time, GGD Zuid-Limburg has conducted the Kindmonitor across the entire region. This monitor shows how children aged 0 to 12 are doing. In the autumn of 2025, over 34,000 parents from South Limburg were invited to complete a questionnaire about their child. A total of 14,135 parents participated in this survey.
Healthy eating and drinking
According to the Kindmonitor, 95% of children have breakfast every day. Fruits (79%) and vegetables (66%) are also part of the daily diet for many children. Water appears to be a common choice for many: 92% drink water or unsweetened tea at least five days a week. However, about one in five children drinks a sugary drink every day, and the same number consumes a sweetened drink without sugar.
Focus on exercise and outdoor play
Nearly three-quarters of children aged 4 and older are members of a sports club, yet it remains challenging for them to get enough exercise in their free time. Only one in five children meets the exercise guideline of at least one hour per day. Outdoor play is also not always a daily occurrence: about two-thirds of children do not play outside every day.
High screen time
Children spend a lot of time in front of screens. In the youngest age group (0–4 years), nearly half of the children watch a screen every day, and one in four does so for more than half an hour daily. Among older children (4–12 years), 42% spend more than an hour a day watching screens in their free time. Among children aged 8 to 12, over half own a smartphone, and more than 80% are active on social media. Among younger children (4–7 years), about half use social media (primarily YouTube). Despite 79% of parents setting screen time rules, only 41% actually adhere to them.