PREVALENCIJA AKTIVNOSTI SLOBODNOG VREMENA UČENIKA OSNOVNOŠKOLSKE DOBI
PREVALENCE OF LEISURE ACTIVITIES IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Summary/Abstract: The quality of leisure time in children and youth is a relevant and current issue. The objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of leisure activities in primary school students, and differences in the students’ gender, school success and the school they attend in relation to the ways they spend their free time. The research encompassed 126 students (58 fourth grade students and 68 sixth grade students) from two primary schools in the Republic of Croatia. A questionnaire was constructed, consisting of 9 statements on a three-point ordinal scale. The results indicate that primary school students spend most of their free time socializing with friends, while least time is spent reading books and using Facebook. It is also found that age and gender differences affect participation in leisure activities in students; sixth grade students spend more time surfing the Internet, spend more time on Facebook and play more computer and console games than fourth grade students; and with regard to gender differences, girls spend more of their time than boys reading books and talking on the phone, while boys spend more of their time playing computer and console games. There is a weak negative correlation between school success and the amount of time spent on Facebook. There is a statistically significant difference in the ways primary school children spend their time depending on the school they attend. The data presented in this paper could help parents, teachers and other professionals involved with the planning of leisure activities for children and youth in the effective organization of activities that promote a comprehensive development of a student’s personality.

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