Most parents probably already know that kids these days tend to spend more of their waking hours in front of a screen than playing outdoors. It is said that, on average, today’s kids spend seven hours a day staring at electronics like phones, laptops, tablets and television. Evidence demonstrates that kids today tend to swap active outdoor recreation for more sedentary activities, often to the detriment of their health and quality of life. As a parent, you want your kids to grow up to be healthy, well-rounded individuals with a strong sense of independence and compassion. The best way to teach these qualities to your kids is to get them outside – away from screen time.
Encouraging children to increase their time outside and away from their devices aids their physical health and helps them become emotionally and intellectually tougher. Whether it’s a trip to a nature-inspired park or taking a hike through the woods with their family, there’s no denying the benefits of playing outdoor games and stepping away from the screen and into the sunshine. Spending time outside presents extensive benefits for children’s physical development throughout their preschool and elementary years. Outdoor play is directly related to a child’s physical strength, weight and immune function. Kids who are active throughout childhood are usually more likely to engage in regular exercise later in life. Encouraging outdoor play in young children helps develop a healthy attitude about maintaining an energetic adult lifestyle.
It has been proven that, when compared with their peers, kids who spend more time outdoors typically exhibit more advanced motor skills, lower body mass index, better general health, and improved muscle strength. Besides, there are also social development benefits of outdoor play like easier communication with others, greater self-awareness, appreciation of the environment, and improved peer-to-peer relationships. Outdoor play also offers emotional development benefits to children. Watching television only requires the use of two senses — hearing and sight. However, kids who regularly play outdoors experience more sensory engagement through exploration making use of all five senses. Going outdoors also fosters independence, learns to self-respect, and most importantly, builds resilience. Additionally, outdoor play also helps in intellectual development of the child as it aids brain development, improves interpersonal skills, expands their learning space and sparks interest in new topics. Playing outdoors also offers mental health benefits like reduced risk of mental illness, lowered stress and fatigue, and increased happiness.
Outdoor games for kids are indeed as important as their studies and other daily activities. An adequate amount of physical activity keeps a child physically and mentally strong. The health benefits of outdoor activities are numerous. It improves blood flow to the brain, sensory development, develops muscular strength, reduces obesity and stimulates blood cells. Limiting children’s screen time and encouraging more outdoor activities may help solve many problems, both personal and social, in the long run. Of course, parents must ensure adequate safety precautions for their children. Teaching the children how to stay safe outdoors when they’re young is also a benefit. By keeping children away from the outdoors and keeping them indoors hooked to the screen, we are raising a generation of bubble wrapped weak children.
