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Why Kids Should Spend Time Outdoors

Kids today are growing up in a totally different environment from what their parents remember from their childhoods.

With everything moving at such a fast pace, and with phones and tablets to keep children distracted, the great outdoors is often neglected.

However, parents should put in more effort in ensuring that their children get enough time in the sun, as it has a myriad of health and mental benefits. For one thing, an article on Parents reveals that kids who spend time playing outdoors are more likely to grow up to be well-adjusted adults, less prone to psychiatric disorders. Read on to find out about the other advantages of letting your kids spend plenty of time outdoors:

It’s a fun way to exercise

During outdoor activities, whether it’s in the local park or hiking up a small mountain, there is always some form of exercise involved. Children will be using monkey bars, trying to climb trees, jumping, or running around. This is a great way to get them the exercise they need to help their young bodies grow in a healthy manner. As an added bonus, you get to squeeze in a workout yourself while participating in an intense game of catch or hide and seek. Take it a step further and spend a bit on a kid-friendly soccer set or a classic Lifetime jungle gym to encourage even more physical activity.

It’s a great bonding experience

While it can be tempting to spend the weekend on the couch on your phone, it’s much more rewarding to go outside with the entire family. Bonding outdoors can start as early as when your children are just babies or toddlers, and can have a great effect on how your kids view personal relationships. Temple University developmental psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek explains how play encourages emotional attunement and how to empathize with others.

A family picnic on a hill is not just a fun way to spend a weekend; it’s a practical way to teach children how to understand others and regulate their own emotional responses. What's more, your youngest children may stand to benefit more than you think from this outdoor bonding. Babies are especially perceptive, and often need the comfort of a familiar face when they are two to six months old. In fact, a study from the University of Sheffield found that little ones as young as 6 months old can distinguish between human faces better than some adults. If you have more than one toddler in tow, iCandy has a wide variety of double and tandem strollers that let your kids sit in front of each other which enhances their bonding experience with their sibling. Not only is this a smart way of using rest periods in the stroller, it’s also a safe way for your babies or toddlers to bond while observing everything that is around them. Carry around a handy Beebo for easier bottle-feeding and you’re all set for a stress-free family bonding experience!

It allows them to appreciate nature

The future of the planet depends on our children, and getting them to appreciation it very young is more important than you think. Having your kids feel the grass, inhale fresh air, or play in a stream are all key experiences that will help them cultivate a deeper love for nature. If you really can’t get them to look up from their tablet screen, just teach them how to use it better with apps like Disneynature Explore and Meet the Insects which they can use while playing outdoors. This is a compromise that underscores the advantage of having web-connected devices while playing in and learning about nature.

All in all, having your kids spend time in nature is beneficial for the whole family. You get a significant amount of physical activity all while enjoying a much-needed bonding experience. You don’t even have to go hiking or drive to a faraway lake to reap these benefits, as even just a day at the local garden or park will do the trick — anything to give your young ones a taste of the great outdoors.