Get your children to love nature

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