How much time do your kids spend outdoors? In the digital era, where kids tend to spend more time indoors staring at the screen and a few minutes playing outside. As a parent, you might not realize it now, but such habits can harm your child in the long run. Investing in kids outdoor play is highly recommended, and it is all for the right reasons. Here are some of the benefits and reasons why parents should invest in having their kids spend more time playing outdoors as opposed to the typical case of kids spending more time on iPads and television.
Essential for cognitive development
Your kids’ routine can significantly affect their social and emotional development, which will, in return, impact their cognitive growth. Studies have shown that outdoor play helps children learn how to share, take turns, and even develop excellent behavioral skills. Letting them play outside with other kids will help them learn and explore their surroundings, and this will allow them to develop their abilities. They also get the chance to interact with other kids, thus improving their communication and cooperation skills, not forgetting that fresh air is suitable for their growth.
Promote creativity
This goes without saying that letting your children engage in outdoor activities will help them improve their artistic skills compared to when they spend all their time on the screens. Staying outside will expand the children’s imaginations, and you will realize that they will try to craft or come up with something constructive. These are the same skills that they will use as they grow to become active and creative individuals.
Helps them to become more attentive
As they play outside, the kids become more curious and attentive to stuff. They want to know how everything they see works and why it works as it does. They become more self-directed, and this will, in return, improve their attentive skills or how long they stay focused on a task. Kids who spend most of their time indoors have less exposure to things that require follow-up. They will be seated, watching movies, or playing games without any participation. This could even result in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Such issues will affect the child’s development even as a grownup.
Healthier children
Forget about the kids for a while. Even adults are advised to spend time outdoors to maintain their health. Everyone needs fresh air to stay healthy and active, and that is something that you cannot get by spending most of your time indoors. Letting your kids spend time outdoors, running up and down, throwing balls, and carrying objects from one spot to the other will improve their mental and physical health. You will be raising active kids, and this will naturally help improve their skills. They also get enough Vitamin D, which is good for their health.
Freedom and independence
Letting the kids play outside is the easiest way to teach them the value of independence. You can supervise the children but let them make most of the decisions by themselves. This will help them learn how to independently make decisions as they interact with other kids or play by themselves. They will learn that they need to stand up after falling. They also learn to share and learn to negotiate with other kids. Such skills are super-efficient if acquired at a young age.
The benefits of kids’ outdoor play are endless, and these are just a few of what to expect. It is the best way to raise healthy and super active kids, not forgetting that you teach your kids how to be disciplined and interact with others. Make the initiative of investing in outdoor plays from a good store and watch how much easier rising them will be.
