Encourage Children to Play Outside
Limit Screen Time, Invite Friends & Stock Outdoor Toys
Dec 2, 2008
Fresh air, sunshine and exercise are good for kids. As reported by Karen MacPherson in the Pittsburgh, PA Post-Gazette, children who spend time running around outdoors will sleep better and decrease their risk of obesity. Children who spend a lot of time outside will also behave better, be less fidgety and less disruptive.
There are myriad reasons why children don’t play outside as much as they used to. Modern children are often entertained indoors by the television or a gaming system. Many have structured after-school activities and are not home during typical outdoor play hours. Still, others have parents who feel unsupervised outdoor play is unsafe.
Mike Lanza, founder of the Playborhood website, has made it his mission to bring awareness to this problem. His website is a place for parents to read articles and share information about getting kids outside to play. In his article, "A Great Neighborhood Life for Your Kids? It’s a Lot of Work and It Begins When Kids are Toddlers," Lanza explains that parents have to cultivate an outdoor habit with their children from an early age. Once children develop the screen-time habit and become accustomed to structured activities, it becomes harder to get them to play outside.
While it may be ideal to foster a love of the outdoors in the toddler stage, all is not lost if you haven’t been able to do that. Once children are old enough to play outdoors by themselves, you can encourage them to get outside for exercise and fresh air. Here’s how:
Limit Screen Time
Television and gaming time is tempting for children. Some families choose to ban it altogether. Others choose to require a certain amount of outdoor play before the TV or game console can be turned on. Alternatively, it can also be saved for rainy days, but not allowed on sunny days.
Invite Neighborhood Kids Over to Play
It can be hard to get children outside to play when there is no one to play with. Inviting the neighborhood kids over can make reluctant kids get off the couch and head outdoors.
Outdoor Toys
Be sure to have plenty of outdoor toys available for your kids and their friends. Swings, riding toys, water toys, a sandbox, sidewalk chalk and balls are all outdoor toy staples. Kids are more likely to head outside if they know there is something to do out there.
Parents Need Outdoor Time, Too
If your child is especially reluctant to go outside on his own, then consider joining him. This is helpful if there are no other children around to play with. Spend some time swinging or playing basketball with a child. Or, enlist his help with outdoor chores. Most children enjoy working alongside their parents.
Families should strive for some outdoor time everyday. To encourage your child to spend time outside, limit his screen time, invite friends over to play, have an ample supply of outdoor toys and join him outside.
Sources:
"Experts Call Unstructured Play Essential to Children’s Growth," Karen MacPherson; Post-Gazette on-line, lifestyle section; October 3, 2002.
"A Great Neighborhood Life for Your Kids? It’s a Lot of Work and It Begins When Kids are Toddlers," Mike Lanza; Playborhood website; October 26, 2008.
