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Have you ever struggled with finding a way to decrease your child’s screen time? In a rapidly changing world, driven by technology more and more, people are constantly given new information on multiple platforms. This could potentially be damaging for children if there isn’t a balance between indoor and outdoor playtime.
Nowadays, there are so many gadgets that attract children, and it is no doubt they have their purpose. However, a disadvantage would be their lack of desire to leave the house. So, let’s not forget the benefits of playing outside, as there is nothing like coming home from a day full of nature and fun.
Physical health
Everyone knows exercise improves your overall state of mind. The feeling you get after a workout is your body releasing endorphins. On top of that, it has plenty of physical benefits. Children can improve their physical health through games, so they don’t see it as an actual workout.
Physical resilience
Everything that is done from an early age is building upon that person’s development. Learning a new language, for example, is proven to be more effective if started as early as the age of 4. So is the case with physical activities – the earlier you start, the quicker the body builds strength, given that children are in constant growth until the age of 15.
Apart from improved muscle memory, outdoor activities improve your bone strength, as sunlight is an amazing natural provider of vitamin D. The more your child plays outside, the less you will be inclined to give him the needed nutrients through pills. Research also shows that playing outside is good for children in terms of their distance vision development, as it decreases the chances of near-sightedness.
Skills progress
Part of everyone’s growth process is gaining certain skills that are taken for granted later in life, or people do not realize their importance. Such skills are motor ones, connected to muscle development and movement, and cognitive ones, which are brain-based. Introducing outdoor playtime into a child’s everyday activities improves their agility and balance through continuous motion. At the same time, highly needed skills such as coordination, attention, and visual and auditory perception are also acquired through play.
Mental wellbeing
An individual's mental well-being is equally important as their physical health and should be taken seriously, as one can affect the other.
Anxiety-free lifestyle
Life can easily become hectic. For children, a rushed schedule with little to no activity outdoors and social interaction can interfere with their mental wellbeing, making them stressed and unfocused. Incorporating certain activities and sports into everyday life makes them less prone to developing stress-related conditions, such as anxiety. It is known physical activity also improves their sleep schedule.
Besides, becoming acquainted with other children is a great way of learning how to work well within a team. This is in close connection to emotional intelligence, and it is of the utmost importance to give enough attention to it. By socializing with children of the same age, it increases their ability to listen to others' needs and teaches them to share and be empathetic. Furthermore, developing empathy through teamwork is a skill needed in leadership, so it is crucial to allow them the space to nurture these beneficial traits.
Self-confidence through game
Specific games and sports are a great way of getting the confidence every child needs. A great way of doing this is to send them to a summer camp. At first, they might feel anxious about meeting new people, but this is an opportunity for them to step out of their comfort zone. The way camps are structured, makes every activity fun and has a learning outcome, such as gaining self-confidence or self-resilience. By getting involved in group activities and games, they achieve independence and discover their strengths.
However, being away from home for a long period of time can be quite scary for some children. In this case, a good option is day camps. They don’t require as much commitment from the beginning, but are organized enough to provide the right environment to socialize.
There are more than 5,000-day camps across the United States, while up to 7,000 overnight ones, so there are enough options to match your requirement. No matter your location, be it in the city or the suburbs, you can help your child explore step by step. And after a few times at day camps in Queens, for instance, they might become confident enough for an entire month during summer.
More real, less virtual
Nowadays, parents struggle with children spending too much time in front of screens, playing with gadgets and virtual reality. So, trying to decrease their time with a tablet or game console, without them feeling “robbed” of an experience, is a difficult task. So, what is it that the outdoors can offer, which the indoors cannot have?
Connections
Being outside, surrounded by children of all ages and meeting new people, is a great way of making memories that the virtual world simply cannot have. This can grow into developing friendships that could last a lifetime, and no amount of video games can offer such a connection like a childhood friend.
Nature
In a world that has become so technologically-driven, being outside has been put down on the priority list, although it is highly needed. Witnessing nature in all its forms, from feeling the grass to digging in soil and climbing trees, children become more nature appreciative than they would if they only read about these activities in books or saw in a video game. Plus, they will grow into environmentally aware adults and lead a healthier lifestyle altogether.
Parent – child connection
Whether you are a parent with a full-time job or you’re staying at home, you might not always get the time for a proper playdate with your child. Going to a park during weekends benefits both, and you set an example that taking a break is also important. This is a chance for you to bond, and there are plenty of activities that you can do together. Whether you’re teaching them to ride the bicycle or you’re playing football, these kinds of activities are an opportunity to get to know each other and build trust.
Children's school-given education is of the utmost importance, but there are equally needed and important skills and habits that you can only acquire through playtime. As parents, it is essential to place leisure time on the same scale as school for a child's well-balanced growth. Spare time spent outdoors has benefits that cannot be replaced with anything else.
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Updated on September 15, 2021
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