The Importance of Outdoor Play

The Benefits of Children Playing Outside

 During my childhood my mom's answer for everything was "get out of the house!  Go play outside!" At the time I would suspect she just wanted us out of her hair, but she really did us a favor.  My brother and I would play for hours outside.  The memories of climbing trees, getting lost in our grandparents forest, looking for crabs at the beach all inspire me to make sure the next generation of children are able to have those memories.

In an article entitled, "Young Kids and the Popularity of Portability" by Lisa Guernsey, says that from BIRTH to AGE 5 80% of children are watching TV, and more then 20% are using the internet.  I'm not arguing that children should not be allowed to have any access to media, but they spend so much time around media, when do they have the time to go outside?

I attribute my mom's push for us to be outside all the time, the reason for my passion for children to be playing in nature.  When children are outside  they have a natural curiosity that can evolve into many discoveries.  There needs to be a healthy balance between exposure to technology and playing in the natural world.

I worked at a school where children were dropped off outside, we would spend a chunk of our morning education outside, followed by meeting time then free play inside.  Because the children were outside first, they came inside focused and ready to learn.  This is just one of the many benefits for children to be playing in the natural world.

Whether you are a parent, teacher or are simply interested in the subject, please read this article.  It gives great ideas to incorporate nature into a child's life.