This Fall season between crisp weather,
new school year and budding sports seasons beating the challenge of getting
children to spend more time outside when they are not doing homework can seem daunting. The suffocating glow of electronics makes it
difficult to encourage outdoor adventures when prying children away from
smartphones, iPads, computers, television and video games is a fight not worth
picking.
Almost half of children aged between ten
and twelve spend less than thirty minutes outside each day. As a result from the lack of outdoor
activity, 40% of five to eight year olds suffer cardiac risk factors. Seems shocking but once the school bell
dismisses students, the average teenage will spend over seven hours each day
texting, watching television and playing video games.
In a recent article by Better Homes and
Gardens, a parent shares how they approached the wrath of electronics when all
children see are their peers texting away. The article went on to describe the
trivial question of when a good age is to allow smart phones and electronics in
the hands of children. How will it
effect their school work, will they put it aside to interact with peers face to
face and will they know how to play a real sports game that doesn’t involve a
remote controller?
If you ask a child what their favorite
part of the school day was the majority would answer, recess. Being outside disconnects children from what
is going on a school and the same at home.
Playing outside should not be viewed as wasted time because it acts as
an important role in the way children develop physically, socially and
emotionally.
Benefits of outdoor play:
1.
Outdoors allows children’s bodies to make vitamin D, which
they need to develop healthy bones, reduce risks of heart diseases and high
blood pressure.
2.
Gain better sleep and improved behavior from running,
jumping, climbing, bike riding, yelling and working off stress.
3.
Strengthens logical thinking and ability to reason. Building sand castles, playing games with
other children and exploring nature help children develop.
4.
Encourages children to utilize their imagination, discover
what their interests are and take risks.
The social skills that children need to
learn at a young age through playing outdoors will stay with them throughout
life.
Do you still remember playing
outdoors before their were electronics to distract you?
What activity will you encourage outdoors
this Fall?
To read more about outdoor play and
development check out http://suite101.com/article/benefits-of-outdoor-play-for-children-a183901#ixzz27PVyZJPp
