South Limburg parents reveal habits of 14,000 children: screen time and exercise in spotlight
New data from GGD South Limburg shows how children aged 0-12 in the region eat, play, and use screens. While most kids have healthy breakfast habits, screen time and lack of daily exercise raise concerns for parents and policymakers.
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Region | South Limburg |
| Survey Participants | 14,135 parents (out of 34,000 invited) |
| Age Group | Children aged 0–12 |
| 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 >30 mins |
| Daily Screen Time (4-12 yrs) | 42% spend >1 hour daily |
| Smartphone Ownership | 50% of 8-12 year-olds |
| Social Media Use (8-12 yrs) | 80% active |
| Social Media Use (4-7 yrs) | 50% (primarily YouTube) |
| Parental Screen Time Rules | 79% set rules; 41% enforce consistently |
GGD South Limburg is responsible for public health monitoring and youth healthcare (JGZ) in the region. This report combines survey data from parents with official health records to provide a comprehensive overview of children’s well-being, guiding local policies and interventions.
Read the full translated article below
Child Monitor and JGZ Data 2025 Available
How are children in South Limburg doing? The health, leisure activities, and lifestyle of our youngest residents in focus.
For the first time, GGD South Limburg has conducted the Child Monitor across the entire region. This monitor shows how children aged 0 to 12 are faring. In the autumn of 2025, over 34,000 parents in 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
The Child Monitor reveals that 95% of children eat 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 activity: about two-thirds of children do not play outside every day.
High Screen Time
Children spend a significant amount of time in front of screens. In the youngest age group (0–4 years), nearly half of the children watch screens 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 on screens in their free time. Among 8- to 12-year-olds, 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% consistently adhere to them.
Combined Municipal Reports: Child Monitor and JGZ Data
The results of the Child Monitor have been combined with the 2025 annual figures from Youth Health Care (JGZ) South Limburg. These figures provide insight into the health of children and young people aged 0 to 18, with special attention to those aged 0 to 12. Since the Child Monitor and JGZ data cover the same period and target group, the findings have been consolidated into a single report this year. By combining both sources, a more comprehensive picture emerges of children’s health in the region. The JGZ figures are based on registration data from child health records, while the Child Monitor reflects parents’ perceptions of their child’s health and well-being.
View All Child Monitor and JGZ Data 2025
The results of the Child Monitor and Youth Health Care (JGZ) can be viewed by region and municipality via the South Limburg Health Atlas. Since the Child Monitor was conducted in collaboration with GGD Limburg-Noord, these dashboards also include provincial-level data.