Is Your Little One Getting Enough Time Outside?
Is your little one getting enough time outside?
According to research, kids of all ages should get at least 3 hours of free play outdoors a day.
Why is outdoor play so important for littles? Well — when children play outside during the early years, they get a chance to explore their physical and cognitive capabilities without the restrictions of indoor play.
As they play, they’ll learn about themselves, other children, and the world around them, while also learning and mastering new motor and language skills.
There are so many developmental benefits to playing outside. Outdoor play …
Encourages physical health and an active lifestyle in children.
Supports children’s motor skills by improving their coordination, balance, and agility.
Helps children learn relational play and social skills when it is collaborative.
Promotes self-awareness by teaching children to be observant assess and manage risks, and use reasoning skills.
Offers children the opportunity to learn new words and concepts for what they are experiencing. In fact, research shows that children use as five times many words when they play outdoors compared to indoors.
As an early childhood therapist, I understand that this amount of time may be unattainable for some families, but it’s still important to know and understand the research and try to incorporate as much outdoor time into your family’s schedule as you can.
If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by this statistic, here are some good places to start:
Go on walks after dinner
Go to the park
Garden with your littles
Let them loose in the backyard
Grab a hose and some buckets for some water play
Let your littles play in the dirt outside
Jump in puddles when it’s raining
Get out and make snow art and snow people when it snows
Play hopscotch
Make sidewalk chalk art
Connect with families in your community
How do you make sure your littles get enough time outside? Share your ideas in the comments so other parents can be inspired!
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