The bar chart illustrates the percentage of Australian children in three different age groups (5–8, 9–11, and 12–16 years old) who participated in four activities in 2018.
Overall, watching TV was the most common activity across all age groups, while playing computer games had the lowest participation, particularly among older children. Additionally, younger children were generally more engaged in outdoor activities, such as riding bikes.
In detail, watching TV was highly popular among all three groups, with participation rates exceeding 80%, and the highest proportion was observed in the youngest age group. Reading was another well-liked activity, with participation rates ranging from approximately 60% to 70%, and older children showed slightly greater involvement.
By contrast, playing computer games was the least favored activity, with a declining trend as age increased. While nearly 60% of children aged 5–8 played computer games, participation dropped significantly among 12–16-year-olds to around 40%. Riding bikes, on the other hand, saw the opposite pattern, with the highest percentage recorded among older children (around 80%), whereas younger children had slightly lower participation.
In summary, television was the dominant activity among Australian children, while playing computer games was the least common, especially among older age groups. Meanwhile, engagement in physical activities varied, with bike riding being particularly popular among older children