Getting children active outdoors is essential for their physical and mental health. However, it can be challenging to get them to leave their screens and go outside. Here are some simple ways to get children active outdoors:
Follow their interests: Consider what your child likes to do and are interested in and go from there. You may need to do some creative thinking. For example, if your child likes animals, take them to a local zoo or nature reserve.
Go outside with them: Your kids will want to go outside more if you go play with them. Kick the ball around, have a game of cornhole, go splash in the creek, or have a picnic. Have fun, let them see you smile and enjoy yourself.
Organize an outdoor play date: Take your kids and a few of their friends to a park, creek, or lake. Watch them cooperate and interact with each other and the natural environment.
Incorporate outdoor activities into everyday life: Move everyday activities to the outdoors. For example, have a family meal outside, do homework outside, or read a book outside.
Gradually increase the level of independence your child has outdoors: Start with going up and down the street, to around the block, and progress to the nearby playground.
Create an outdoor scavenger hunt: Make a list of items for your child to find in nature, such as leaves, rocks, or flowers. This activity can be done in your backyard or at a local park.
Sign them up for a playgroup: Organize a playgroup that meets after school for snack and playtime. Meet other kids and parents at a field near your child’s school and bring a soccer ball.
Take small steps: Set a goal that’s reasonable and achievable. Start small, maybe the first goal is to get outside (for any length of time) three times a week. You can start right in your own backyard and venture further out from there.
Make it fun: Incorporate outdoor toys such as cubby houses, balance bikes, ride-on toy ponies, push & pull toys, pedal cars & ride ons, and teepees.
Water is your friend: If it's summer and the temperatures are nice, then water is a great incentive to let your kids let loose outdoors. Sprinklers, water guns, toy tugboats, and other similar accessories are great ways to encourage your kids to experience and enjoy the outdoors.
Getting children active outdoors is essential for their physical and mental health.
By following their interests, going outside with them, organizing outdoor play dates, incorporating outdoor activities into everyday life, gradually increasing their level of independence, creating an outdoor scavenger hunt, signing them up for a playgroup, taking small steps, making it fun, and using water as an incentive, you can encourage your children to spend more time outside.
Should you force your child to go outside?
The answer is not a simple yes or no. Here are some points to consider:
Reasons to Force Your Child to Go Outside
- Outdoor play is essential for proper growth and development. A significant amount of daily outside free play is imperative for children's physical and mental health.
- Outdoor play can help children build their imagination and come to terms with risk.
- Outdoor play can help children develop social skills, such as listening, sharing, and expressing emotions.
- Outdoor play can help children develop gross and fine motor skills that will be important throughout their lives.
- Outdoor play can help children build resilience, encourage independence, and give them a sense of freedom.
Reasons Not to Force Your Child to Go Outside
- Forcing children outside sounds a little savage. Instead, we should be 'strongly encouraging' our children out into nature and the great outdoors.
- Kicking kids out the door is not the answer (at least not all the time). While kids/parents benefit from some away time, the example you set of getting your child outside is a huge priority. If they don’t see you making an effort and loving it, there is no reason for them to even try.
- Sometimes it just takes a little more time for certain kids to start enjoying the outdoors. If you are going into an outdoor activity expecting a certain outcome, more times than not, you (and your child) will be frustrated.
- Kids need nature, but if kids aren’t brought outside and made to stay there for a little while, a lot of them will drift back to their climate-controlled residences and pick up the myriad blinking and blooping devices to which they are addicted.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while it is essential to encourage children to spend time outdoors, forcing them to do so may not be the best approach. Instead, parents can strongly encourage their children to go outside by leading by example, making the backyard exciting, inviting friends for a play date, explaining that it's outdoor time, and getting the right gear.
Parents can also gradually introduce outdoor activities into their children's lives and follow their interests.
Ultimately, the goal is to foster a love of the outdoors in children and help them develop the skills they need to thrive in life.
Comments
Post a Comment