Children’s health and well-being have become an important topic in the last decades, and many parents want what is best for their children. In this day and age, there are lots of problems which affect the younger generations, ranging from obesity to anxiety and depression, allergies, and asthma. While a wonder cure isn’t available an affordable method which may alleviate some of these problems does exist, and it comes with additional benefits: a healthier brain, support for creativity, cooperation and better academic achievements.
Unlike other strategies, this one will be quite attractive for most children since it already makes them happy in a lot of cases. It is known as playing outside. Many adults will remember with pleasure the hours spent outside with their friends as they played, explored the neighborhood, and created a new game from scratch without being supervised by a parent. Such experiences play an important role in the development of children, and they can have a lifelong effect on development.
Outdoor play is essential for children and their health
New research argues that outdoor play carries many additional benefits in comparison to other forms of entertainment. When children play outside, they are more inclined to move, explore, and play for longer periods of times. Exposure to dirt, which may seem unsavory to some parents, plays a key role in the establishment of a strong immune system. By creating and achieving their own goals, they practice and develop executive function skills. Each experience has the potential to bring a wealth of useful information, including the ability to manage social skills and to minimize potential risks.
Governments have started to see outdoor play as a feasible strategy in the fight against childhood obesity. In schools and childhood centers, it is promoted as an excellent way of improving academic and socio-emotional learning. Parents do not need to buy expensive outdoor toys or create elaborate setups. In most cases, leaving the door open is more than enough as the children will do the rest. If they want to be more involved, there are lots of useful resources on the web.
