I am a big believer in spending time outside. Even more so now that I am a mother. In addition to simply being an enjoyable experience, playing outside is also good for the health, emotional well being and development of our children. September 26th-27th is The Great Outdoor Weekend here in Cincinnati. Visit this link to find a list of all of the free events available to you and your family this weekend. If you need additional encouragement to get outside and play, just think about the developmental side of things.
Infants: Very small children are sponges soaking up all of the sensory experiences around them. Getting them outside encourages development of their senses. Beautiful scenery, fresh air and of course your comforting presence will make everything from a nice stroll around the neighborhood to sitting on the porch swing a learning experience full of endless potential.
Toddlers: As young children begin to assert their independence, they also become more determined to master their own bodies as well as their surroundings. Use time outside to practice those gross motor skills, to talk about new words (acorn! ladybug! pebble!) and to allow them the chance to explore these objects (with supervision of course).
Preschoolers: The outside world is a natural playground. You can’t beat the benefits that a growing child will gain from climbing a tree or seeing what happens when you throw a rock into a pond. They are starting to connect things at this age and love learning what animals live where and how they grow. Nature is an empty canvas for their imaginations. This is such a fun age to go exploring!
School Age: Unstructured free play encourages overall health and activity level. Spending time outside can foster creativity, the ability to problem solve and help bring about self and social awareness in children of this age. They are also learning more and more about how they impact and interface with the world around them so this is a great age to start with more in depth projects, such as a home garden or volunteering for a local park clean up.
Adolescents: As tough as it may be in the electronic age to get these kids out the door, it is still just as beneficial. Most people would agree that the activity of being outside and other overall health benefits gained from being in nature can positively impact mood and outlook on life, something that is crucial in this stage of development. This could be as simple as reading a book in the hammock in the back yard or meeting a friend for a jog at the local park.
