If a child grows up never walking in the woods, digging in soil, seeing animals in their habitat, climbing a mountain, playing in a stream, or staring at the endless horizon of an ocean, they may never really understand what there is to be lost. So much of our world is changing, and not for the better. If they only interact in very structured settings, such as school or sports teams, they won’t - they can’t - learn everything they need to know.Ħ. They need to learn to make friends, how to share and cooperate, how to treat other people. Children need to learn how to work together. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try the lessons we learn from failure are just as important as those we learn from success.ĥ. Yes, you can break an arm from climbing a tree - and yes, you can be humiliated when you try to make a friend and get rejected. But if we keep them in bubbles and never let them take any risks, they won’t know what they can do - and they may not have the confidence and bravery to face life’s inevitable risks. As parents, this makes us anxious we want our children to be safe. Being outside gives them opportunities to practice these important life skills.Ĥ. They need time alone and with other children, and to be allowed (perhaps forced) to make up their own games, figure things out, and amuse themselves. These are skills that must be learned and practiced - and to do this, children need unstructured time. Creativity falls in here, too, and using our imagination to problem-solve and entertain ourselves. These are the skills that help us plan, prioritize, troubleshoot, negotiate, and multitask they are crucial for our success. They can certainly exercise indoors, but sending them outdoors - especially with something like a ball or a bike - encourages active play, which is really the best exercise for children.ģ. Children should be active for an hour every day, and getting outside to play is one way to be sure that happens. Our bodies work best when they get some sunshine every day.Ģ. Sun exposure also plays a role our immune system in other ways, as well as in healthy sleep - and in our mood. We need sun exposure to make vitamin D, a vitamin that plays a crucial role in many body processes, from bone development to our immune system. But it turns out that our bodies need sun. Yes, sun exposure - especially sunburns - can increase the risk of skin cancer. Here are six crucial ways playing outside helps children:ġ. It’s not just children adults are spending less time outdoors as well. There are lots of reasons, including the marked increase in time spent interacting with electronic devices, the emphasis on scheduled activities and achievements, concerns about sun exposure - and, for many families, the lack of safe outdoor places to play. There are many ways in which this generation’s childhood is different from that of the last generation, but one of the most abrupt contrasts is the degree to which it is being spent indoors. Here’s something really simple you can do to improve your child’s chance of future health and success: make sure he spends plenty of time playing outside.
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