Society Today

Many children in Romania feel the lack of time spent with their families, rest, and outdoor activities

Ion Puican, 17.06.2026, 10:49

How much time does a child have left for themselves after school ends? That is the question behind a new survey conducted by Save the Children organisation, released in early May. The study was conducted on a sample of nearly 1,500 children aged 9 to 16. The survey paints a picture of a generation caught between school demands and the allure of screens. The conclusion is simple: one in three children simply wants more time with their family and more hours spent outdoors. And nearly half of them say they need more sleep. A child spends about 8 hours a day on school and homework, and for 4 out of 10 children, that figure rises to 10 hours a day. Added to this are tutoring sessions: nearly half of the children take extra classes, with the percentage approaching 60% in Bucharest and other major cities. In this landscape, free time is drastically reduced. Gabriela Alexandrescu, Executive President of the Save the Children Organization, told us what a day in the life of a schoolchild looks like and about the survey conducted by the organisation.

“Our survey shows that a typical day during the school year looks something like this for children: they spend 5–6 hours at school and an hour commuting to and from school. They spend 1–2 hours on homework and studying. They spend 3–4 hours browsing the internet, interacting with friends, or playing online games, and they spend one hour, at most two, in direct social interaction with their family. In other words, in the most common scenario, a child spends about 8 hours a day on school and homework, but for 4 out of 10 children, the time spent on school and homework is 10 hours a day. If we look strictly at the time spent on family interactions, we see that nearly half of the children spend at most 2 hours on that. Consequently, it is no surprise that one in three children would like to have more time for socializing with their family. The survey we are referring to shows that nearly 3 out of 5 children say that the decision regarding how to spend their free time is theirs, while another 30% say the decision is made in agreement with their parents. As expected, parental involvement in how their child spends their free time decreases with age, from 82% in elementary school to 22% among high school students.”

What are the main effects that academic overload, homework, and tutoring have on children’s emotional and mental well-being?

“Children tell us they feel tired. … In fact, when asked what activities they would like to spend more time on, nearly 1 in 2 children say they would like to spend more time sleeping. This overload is also reflected in children’s emotional well-being. A quarter of children frequently feel sad, and a third of children say they feel enthusiastic rarely or very rarely. … Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder among children. This is followed by emotional disorders and parenting difficulties. There are many children going through their parents’ divorce, for example. Learning disorders, screen addiction, and even substance abuse and suicide attempts are other issues.”

Three-quarters of children spend less than five hours a week outdoors—that is, less than an hour a day—and 13% never go outside at all. Screens are gaining ground: 62% of children spend at least three hours a day online, and a quarter of them spend more than six hours there. And the older the child gets, the more time they spend online. What are parents doing about this? Gabriela Alexandrescu, Executive President of Save the Children:

“Only one in ten parents limits the time their children spend online using an app. Another 25% told us they set limits verbally. For nearly 8 out of 10 children over the age of 12, the websites they access online are not restricted in any way by their parents. Nearly a quarter of children also told us that they use apps to hide their online activity so that their parents won’t realize that, instead of reading or studying, they are on the computer.”

One-third of children do not read anything outside the school curriculum, and one-third do not engage in any physical activity during a typical week. How can this trend be reversed? Gabriela Alexandrescu:

“As for reading, our survey aimed to assess independent reading. We found that 30% of children do not spend any time reading outside the school curriculum, and those who do spend mostly less than two hours a week. … When it comes to outdoor activities, our survey showed that 75% of children have less than 5 hours of outdoor activities per week. On average, less than one hour per day.”

Are there significant differences between children in large cities and those in rural areas in terms of academic pressure and free time?

“Save the Children’s research highlighted several differences between children in rural areas and those in large cities. For instance, the time spent on homework differs. While 4 out of 10 students in Bucharest or large cities spend more than three hours a day on homework, only one-third of students in rural areas are in this situation.”

Gabriela Alexandrescu explains the measures the organization is proposing:

“I think it’s very important to take a close look at the measures proposed directly by the children. … 1. Time for rest, hobbies, and personal development. … We want a more balanced school schedule. 2. Help us spend less time in front of screens and more time on real-world activities—in other words, give us options. … 3. Access to psychological counseling. And regarding the right to protection and online safety, the children told us they need modern digital education programs and for online safety to be addressed as a national priority. … And they need clear information about the effects of excessive phone use for children, but also for parents.”

The Save the Children survey does not point fingers; rather, it raises a question that we all—parents, teachers, and the community alike—should ask ourselves: How can we give children and teenagers the space to enjoy their childhood, to play, and to be together? (MI)