Welcome Summer!
Summer time is a great time for kids to get engaged and play outside. Most, if not all kids are out of school for the summer now in Western North Carolina. Playing outside is crucial to not only your child’s physical health, but beneficial to their development and emotional/mental health as well.
Unfortunately, due to a variety of factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the increase in the use of technology, think cellphones, video games, tv etc.— kids aren’t going outside and playing like they used to.
As we approach a semblance of normalcy and are sending kids back to camp and going outside more, the importance of playing outside is reaching new heights.
Benefits of playing outside:
• Physical health. When kids are outside, they’re moving around and being active which helps to curb sedentary activities and prevent excessive weight gain and chronic diseases related to obesity. When they are outside, they are also developing their fine motor skills and learning new skills.
• Mental health. Getting out in nature has been repeatedly proven to improve mental health. Disconnecting from technology and experiencing nature has tremendous benefits that many others have covered in depth.
• Social health. Taking your kids to the playground or on a hike opens you and your child up to making new friends and socializing. When kids are exposed to other kids, they learn important social skills such as problem solving, sharing, taking turns and having fun.
Tips for encouraging your children to get outside:
• Create and maintain a screen time plan for the whole family. Set a consistent time where all screens go off for the day/evening and take a walk with your child or go to the park. There are many free options for getting your kids outside, such as going on a picnic, going on a hike, or even a walk around your neighborhood.
• Invite your child’s friends over for an age-appropriate outdoor activity, such as catch, swimming at the local pool, and joining them outside.
• Make your backyard fun. Purchase outdoor toys and games to help make going outside more fun for you and your children.
To learn more tips and find out more about the importance of playing outside, click here.