|
Getting outdoors doesn’t have to happen only when the weather is nice and warm, being outdoors during our colder seasons is equally fun and is actually beneficial to your child’s health! In this digital age, maintaining a strong connection with your family can be challenging especially when you are competing for your child’s attention with all the visually stimulating, engaging games and TV shows that are constantly on their screens. Getting outdoors as a family will help you separate the children from their screens and help you build a family bond. In addition, it will combat the phenomenon called, “Nature Deficit Disorder” that experts say is more prevalent than ever for children who do not spend a lot of time outdoors.
As a parent, we want our kids to grow up to be healthy, well-rounded individuals with a strong sense of independence and compassion, and what better way to teach these qualities than to be outdoors and experiencing what Mother Nature has to offer us.
Here are five benefits of being outdoors:
Gets children moving- getting children off their devices and outdoors burns calories, creates more energy and encourages socialization. All of which allows children to develop more advanced motor skills (i.e. physical and fine motor skills).
Sparking imagination and creativity - the freedom to play outdoors encourages children to use the creative part of their brain and become inventive with activities. This helps build on their cognitive and social skills.
Better emotional development – empower your children to take risks to decide what they want to do outdoors. This gives them an opportunity to build independence and become more resilient. Letting children interact with nature in their own way builds on their confidence and they get to see the cause and effect of their decisions and actions. Being outdoors gives children an opportunity to build on their social skills by taking risks.
Reduces anxiety and Encourages calmness- excessive screen time has been linked to depression and anxiety in children. Unplugging and getting outdoors as a family is soothing and allows children’s minds to have fun and peaceful thoughts without feeling manipulated by social media or video games.
Improve interpersonal skills – whether at the park or a playground, children naturally meet other children and learn to build genuine friendships which helps with their social and emotional skills. While out and about, they meet children from different backgrounds and culture which teaches them about diversity and inclusiveness. Parents can facilitate positive interactions by setting up playdates not only indoors but outdoors as well!
As parents, we have the privilege and responsibility of setting a great example for our children, and the opportunity to teach them how great we can feel when we’re fit, healthy and connected both to nature and people. Spending time in nature with your family is a great way to strengthen your family bond in a fun setting, and will establish healthy habits in your kids routines that they'll carry through into their adult years.
| 
