Why is Outdoor Play So Important Amy Smith, April 16, 2019December 31, 2022 The Importance of Outdoor Play Outdoor play and nature activities are good for kids. But dragging them away from TV, computer and video game screens long enough to enjoy the great outdoors is a parent’s challenge. According to recent research, a lack of direct contact with nature is leaving our children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, performing poorly in school and more stressed than a generation ago. Breaking a child’s habit of time spent watching TV, playing video games and using a computer is not easy and doesn’t have to be done suddenly. Turning off electronics cold turkey and pushing a child out the door won’t allow him to enjoy the outdoors to full potential. Parents can offer fun, outdoor alternatives to an electronic screen and gradually increase the time spent outdoors. Here are some ways to get your children to spend more time outdoors. Walk Instead of Drive Instead of driving to your child’s extracurricular activities, errands and shopping, make the journey getting their part of the outdoor fun. Leave early, wear sneakers or good walking shoes and walk to the things you normally drive to. If all of your errands are too far from home, park your car several blocks away and trek over to where you’re going. Even city or suburb walking can be a nature walk or outdoor adventure. Point out interesting architecture, flowers, landscaping, and insects to your child. Take Indoor Activities Outdoors Who says breakfast has to be eaten at the kitchen table and crafts have to be done indoors? Set up a picnic table in your back yard and start enjoying meals, snacks, arts and crafts, and other projects outside. Plant a Garden When children get interested in something that simply must be done outside, they’ll want to get out there, regardless of what’s on TV. Turn over a corner of the yard to your child to plant with whatever he wants – flowers, herbs, or vegetable plants. Help him learn how the plants should be cared for and encourage him to tend to his garden every day. Kids’ gardening projects are a great way to teach about the science of nature. Offering a child a space for their very own garden also helps raise their interest. Growing your very OWN garden is exciting enough but then when you add a fairy or two, well, that brings it to a whole new level. My Fairy Garden is not just a garden, it is a garden where imagination takes place! Providing a connection with nature, enchantment, and nurturing… it’s a win-win! Inside each My Fairy Garden Kit, comes a Tree Hollow that is a multi-level planter with soil, quick-germinating seeds, a bunny, a fairy, gardening accessories, and tools. The tree hollow has opening doors so the fairy can go inside the tree hollow to “play” (and be stored). You can purchase an additional fairy or two to play along! Start a Neighborhood Outdoor Playgroup There’s strength in numbers. Parents having a tough time dragging their kids outside might have an easier time if all the other kids are outdoors. Start a neighborhood playgroup in which a group of children and parents meet in a backyard, playground, or neighborhood park once a week or more. Take the Kids to the Community Pool A trip to the pool can be a load of fun plus children are typically extremely active when in water. One way to get older children active instead of just sitting on the edge of the pool to soak up the sun is by providing them with toys such as the PlayMonster Aqua Diver. Throw the squid in the water and as soon as it hits the water, a timer will begin. Kids (or even adults) can race to see who can find the squid from the bottom of the pool, hit the timer, and beat either their own time or compete against each other’s time. Play Some Nature Games Give your child a list of things found in nature – an ant hill, a spider web, a pine cone, reddish-brown rock – and see how long it takes him to find everything on the list. Ride-On Toys There are many types of ride-on toys. Riding outside allows your child to get fresh air, step away from screen time, and soak up some vitamin D. Ride-on toys such as the PlayMonster, Free Wheelin’ Rider Convertible Balance Bike allows children to enjoy being outdoors even more but it also has other HUGE benefits. The balance bike does just that. It allows children to increase their balance by starting out with three wheels and then moving to two wheels once they have mastered balancing on three wheels. Since children are pushing the bike with their feet, they are also getting a good bit of exercise. The Free Wheelin’ Bike is available in green, blue, pink, grey, red, and orange. The mama of these two (almost three) year-old boys sent me a message that speaks volumes about these bikes! When I say “all day” I mean ALL day, since 7:50am, before eating breakfast, we’ve been on “motorcycles”😂 Thanks again. They love them! Parents can offer fun, exciting alternatives to indoor play that will soon have their children begging to go outdoors. FREE Wheelin is available at Amazon – https://amzn.to/2PMFOkLFor more information about PlayMonster please visit www.playmonster.com Connect with My Four and More on Social Media! FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST Share on FacebookTweetFollow usSave Health Parenting Tips Reviews activeactive kidsbalance bikebikeKidsoutdoor playoutsideplayPlayMonsterride on toysToys
My kids love being outdoors and only fight when they are cooped up inside. Outdoor play is essential for good mental health too
Nice reading the tips about the importance of outdoor playing for children. They will be useful for parents as children stay more and more indoors these days.
I agree with you that taking them away with those electronic devices is really hard but I think it would be easy if I am going to follow these tips of yours and will start doing outdoor activity tomorrow. Thanks for sharing!
Outdoor play is so important. I loved it as a kid. I think these are great ways to get kids interested in playing outside.
Love these tips!! We definitely strive for outdoors time and sometimes it takes us getting out there with them, and then they just want to keep playing and exploring more!
I’m not surprised that children are more stressed compared to some years ago as playing outside seems to be quite rare. I try to ensure that my kids go and play outside as often as possible.
I agree, outdoor activities are so important, breathing in a fresh air and having our skin touch by the morning sunlight is good for body.
I grew up playing outdoor and doing all the outdoor activities. Yes i agree with you, it is so important especially it allows the kid to be in touch with nature. Thanks for sharing.
We are totally sold on outdoor play here whatever the weather. It is so good for kids development and allows them the freedom to move and be active much more than indoors. An appreciation of nature comes from the outdoors too.