The bar chart illustrates the percentages of Australian youngsters 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 pastime across all age brackets, with over 80% participation, while playing computer games had the lowest engagement, particularly among older individuals. Additionally, younger participants were generally more involved in outdoor activities, such as cycling.
In detail, television viewing was highly popular among all three categories, with participation rates surpassing 80%, and the highest proportion observed in the youngest group. Reading was another well-liked activity, with figures ranging between 60% and 70%, and older students showed slightly greater involvement.
By contrast, gaming was the least favored pursuit, with a declining trend as age increased. While nearly 60% of the youngest cohort played video games, engagement dropped significantly among teenagers to approximately 40%. In contrast, bike riding displayed the opposite pattern, with the highest percentage recorded among adolescents (around 80%), whereas younger individuals had slightly lower participation.
In summary, television was the dominant leisure activity, whereas gaming was the least common, particularly among older age groups. Meanwhile, engagement in physical pursuits varied, with cycling being especially favored by teenagers.