You and your Children need outside play why ?

/ Post a Review Avaliability Product Avaliable For Sale

teacher

QUICK OVERVIEW:

Add to Cart View Cart Checkout

 

There are many reasons kids should play outside, from expressing creativity to running freely to making messes without worrying about dirtying the house. In addition to these fun reasons, there are also many health benefits that make outdoor play great for children.

1. Improves Vision
   A study reported by Optometry and Vision Science found that children who spend time outside have better distance vision than those who primarily play indoors.
2. Promotes Social Skills
   Ross believes getting kids outside and having unstructured play promotes a wide range of skills. "On a playground not everyone gets to go down the slide first. Going to a playground with your kids is not just about running around and being active, but it's also about learning social skills, executive functions and behavioral skills as well through play."
3. Increases Attention Span
   Huang notices the benefits of playing outside in her own kids: "The difference I see is both of my children have a high attention span comparatively speaking, and much more self-directed (they want to investigate things), where other kids might just sit back." Studies have also shown that green outdoor settings appear to reduce ADHD symptoms in children. Exposure to natural settings through after-school and weekend activities may be widely effective in reducing attention deficit symptoms in children.
4. Reduces Stress
   When it comes to stress, Legendre tends to rely on natural remedies. "Spending time outside playing is such a huge outlet for stress. It's relaxing; it is healing." There is even research showing that seeing green spaces can help decrease kids' stress levels."
5. Provides Vitamin D
   According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, lots of kids are suffering from vitamin D deficiencies. This vitamin has several health benefits, including preventing kids from future bone problems, diabetes and even heart disease.

Vitamin D can be received by supplement, but you can also get it through its free and natural version: sunlight. Have your kids play outside for a few minutes without sun screen (which blocks cancer-causing rays, but also vitamin D). Then slather on the lotion. Of course, if your child burns easily, use the sunscreen and increase the vitamin D-heavy foods and supplements.

So what is stop us from letting our children play out side?

the biggest obstacles to today's children being allowed out in this way (or even to the nearest park or patch of wasteground) stem more from anxiety than squeamishness. "Stranger danger", the fear of abduction by an unknown adult, is why most parents won't allow kids out unsupervised. Blanket media coverage of the few such incidents that do occur may have contributed to this; in fact, there is a risk but it's minimal – the chance of a child being killed by a stranger in Britain is, literally, one in a million, and has been since the 70s. "A far more serious issue, a massive issue in fact, is traffic," says Moss. "That has grown exponentially, and it's a very real problem."
It's a problem we need to address, because the consequences of failing to allow our children to play independently outside are beginning to make themselves felt. 

Free and unstructured play in the outdoors boosts problem-solving skills, focus and self-discipline. Socially, it improves cooperation, flexibility, and self-awareness. Emotional benefits include reduced aggression and increased happiness. "Children will be smarter, better able to get along with others, healthier and happier when they have regular opportunities for free and unstructured play in the out-of-doors," concluded one authoritative study published by the American Medical Association in 2005.
Three Large Steps Forward for Parents
Active parents have active kids! Are you an active parent, somewhat active or mostly sedentary?
In order to boost your own physical activity and that of your children, here are three large steps you can take:

• Step forward and be a role model for your kids by being physically active, on your own and together with your children.
• Make sure your kids spend as much time as possible outdoors all year round.
• Reduce your kids’ screen time. Screen time can take away from active time. 

Being a Role Model
If you are active, it’s much more likely that your children will be active. When children see their parents being active regularly, it’s natural for them to follow along or develop similar habits. In addition to leading by example, you can help your kids be more active by:

• Signing them up for activities that they enjoy
• Encouraging them to try new activities
• Watching your kids participate
• Praising their participation and hard work, and doing their best
• Taking them to parks, playgrounds and other places where families can play together
• Planning regular active family time, e.g., swimming, biking, going for a walk
• Choosing gifts that make kids move, e.g., balls, bicycles, skates, kites or other games and sports
• Keeping equipment readily available (e.g., at home or in your vehicle), such as baseball gloves, soccer balls, a Frisbee, sand pails and shovels for fun at the beach, hockey skates, and more

Playing Outside
Children love to play, plus it’s a great way for them to learn.
When they play outside, they can be much more active, especially when compared to less active indoor activities or sedentary time watching TV or playing computer games.
With lots of space and fresh air, children are free to leap, run, shout, swing, and climb. Outdoor play is a way to learn active skills and get better at throwing, catching, kicking, and jumping. When kids feel good about their abilities, they are more likely to be active.
Think back to your childhood. Some of your fondest childhood memories might be of playing outside— the same can be true for your own children! After all, being outside is a natural thing for kids to do.

Reducing Screen Time

Today’s kids face a barrage of media and “screen time.” Whether it’s TV, DVDs, cellphones, computers or other electronics, kids are often going from “one screen to another.” In addition to screen time, our kids also spend a lot of sedentary time in vehicles, daycares and classrooms.
The large amounts of screen time and sedentary time can become a problem when it takes time away from children being physically active and from going outside.
Screen time should be limited to no more than two hours a day to make time for active play. When your children’s friends are over, encourage them to play actively rather than watching TV or playing video games. 

  Suggested Top 40 Ways to Get Moving
Sometimes all it takes is one good idea to get you off your feet. For adults, always consider your abilities and current level of fitness before trying something new. Starting slowly is safe for most people. If in doubt, consult your health professional.
For kids, sometimes a new activity can be intimidating. Go slowly and be encouraging towards your children. Don’t force the issue – if one activity doesn’t work out, try another one on the list! Or, think up your own ideas and create a list of favourites for you and your kids to enjoy in different seasons or year-round. Above all, have fun!

Top 40 Activities:
Outdoors

• Go for regular family walks, in the neighborhood or on nearby trails.
• Plan an active family vacation. Aim to be physically active every day, with activities such as hiking, cycling, camping or swimming.
• Go for a family bike ride. Do it daily or as often as you can.
• Make a family commitment to try a new activity each season. Try activities such as snowshoeing, curling, fishing, in-line skating, running or anything else that interests your family.
• Dig into gardening! Plant a garden and get everyone to help out with their own special section.
• Have a picnic in the park, or at home. During the picnic, play with a soccer ball, football, croquet set or bocce balls.
• On a windy day, go to an open field and fly a kite.
• Set up a low-cost badminton net in your yard all summer long, or take it with you on outings to parks or the lake. Get some low-cost rackets and teach the whole family to play, relax and have fun!
• Go bird watching. See how many birds you and the kids can spot.
• Go outside and wash and wax the car with the whole family.
• Take a moonlight or flashlight walk in the evening. Go stargazing.
• Shovel the snow together.
• Build a snowman or a snow fort.
• Build an outdoor skating rink at home, or join the local community league to access skating rinks.
• Learn to do winter sports together, such as cross-country skiing, downhill skiing or snowboarding.
• Go for a family walk and make it a scavenger hunt. Have each of your children collect common things such as a round rock, a leaf, and a pinecone.
• Organize a “walking school bus" in your neighborhood. Have local parents take turns walking groups of children to school.
• Encourage all family members to walk or cycle to work or school.
• Go often to the neighborhood playground and help your children to climb and swing.
• Play tag or other outdoor games with the whole family, in the yard at home, or at a park or playground.

Games and Other Ideas

 

• Challenge your children to a basketball, volleyball, tennis or baseball game, or any other game!
• Play a game of charades.
• Take the kids to an indoor playground.
• Go bowling.
• Learn how to hacky sack together. Check out tricks and games on the Internet and then practice them at home.
• Have a scavenger hunt as part of birthday celebrations to encourage activity.
• Organize neighborhood games to help your kids make active choices. A soccer, football, baseball, or dodgeball game that is parents vs. children involves everyone.
• Play "remote control hot potato." Pass the TV remote control and whoever is left holding the remote at a commercial break has to lead the family in an exercise break.
• Involve the whole family in doing yard or garage clean-up. When you're done, take the family for an outing such as a swim or walk.
• Encourage informal play. Organized sports have value, but it's important for your children to "play" creatively on their own. Playing house, building a fort, or putting together a show are all ways to engage the brain and body.
• Create a family obstacle course using objects from the house or yard. Keep a chart with everyone's time, and challenge each other to improve. This is a great game for the basement on a rainy day. 
• Buy or borrow an exercise or yoga DVD and follow the routines. Involve family members.
• Allow your children to select only one or two favourite TV programs. For every hour they watch, get a commitment for equal time engaged in physical activity. Make it fair by having the parents do the same.
• Reward children with activity, instead of food or movies. For example, give them swim passes to the local pool.
• Use home exercise equipment regularly. Consider buying equipment that you or family members will use often, such as a ping pong table.
• Go to a local gym, fitness club or public recreation facility. Take part in swimming, racquet sports, skating or other programs and options.
• When taking public transit, get off a few blocks early and walk the rest of the way home.
• Take the stairs. Use the stairs while at school or work, or in office buildings, malls or parkades.
• Form a "family health club" that meets once a week to do an activity, such as bike riding, a swim, or floor hockey. Take turns choosing the activity.
• As a family, train and fundraise for a charity walk or run

 so now that it's spring get out of the house and go outside to play .have fun !!!!!