Why Should You Encourage Your Children to Play Outside More Often?
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Well, how about Splash Pools, Climbing Frames and Ride on Mowers to begin with!
As a parent, you are likely to regularly ponder whether it would be far healthier for your child to play outside rather than be ‘plugged in’ to their tablet or computer. Back in the day when our generation were children, we mostly played outside and knew many of the children in the local community. We didn’t have our brains being influenced by Xbox games or online apps. It also seems that these days, if a child does not go to school in their local area, it’s far less likely that they will know local children. However, the main advantage of playing outside is that your child will be in nature and is likely to lead less of a sedentary lifestyle.
There are many other benefits too and ones that will even go so far as to affect you. Here’s a few reasons to start with:
- They will burn off extra energy (the evenings will be far happier and peaceful)
- Although they will burn off the energy they will also ‘recharge’ that energy by being active
- Gain a greater understanding of the natural world
- Improve social skills through interacting with peers
- Their powers of observation will have a better chance to develop
- Creativity and free play opportunities
- Will help to develop a link between being outside and physical health early on
Sunshine, fresh air and exercise, a combination that cannot be beaten when it comes to good health. Surprisingly, more than half of the population of the UK are actually deprived of Vitamin D due to the amount of time that is being spent indoors.
Being physically confident can allow children to experience so much more of the world. Those that climb trees when they are young have an increased chance of experiencing more enjoyment and being safer when it comes to outdoor adventures and sports. They are used to walking through mud, over stones and know how to climb and hang on tight.
If children are outside, they will find a way to play in their natural environment. Outside play doesn’t have to mean leaving the safety and confines of the garden. It’s possible to add climbing frames, sand boxes, splash pools and ride on tractors to entertain.
Another benefit of playing outside is that the child who is not continually sitting in front of a screen will know far more about nature. This will make their education more rounded.
Parents will ideally ensure that every hour that is played on video games is balanced with an hour in the natural world. Chasing a butterfly in the garden is far more educational than playing a video game.