by
Mama Fox 
There are days where nothing will calm the chaos of having three young boys, nothing except moving the chaos outdoors. They can run, scream, blow bubbles, play fight with wood swords, ride bikes, kick around a soccer ball. Most days they are out there at least an hour a day. Some days I'm out there running around with them (GREAT exercise), other days I take the opportunity to clean while they aren't "helping".
We try to get to the park at least twice a week. They recently put in a small swing set in our neighborhood "park" (it's really just a patch of grass but better than nothing) and there are plans for a playscape going in sometime this summer. It will be great when we don't have to drive to get to a park, especially helpful on the days when the husband takes my truck to work instead of his motorcycle.
There is an epidemic going around lately.
Nature-deficit disorder. A study found that young children could identify 1000 corporate logos but fewer than 10 plants or animals native to their backyards. Childhood obesity is increasing at an alarming rate - 500% since the 1960s.
Greatest increase in child obesity in our history occurred during the same decades as the greatest increase in organized sports for children. Children have less time for unstructured, creative play in the outdoors than ever before in human history.
It doesn't help that 47 million Americans live in neighborhoods with convenants agains outdoor play (e.g., rules agains treehouses, climbing trees, skateboards, basketball nets, and even sidewalk chalk). Fewer than 1 in 5 children walk or ride a bike to school and 40% of schools nationwide have cut recess due to funding cuts and/or need for more instructional time due to pressure created by high-stakes academic testing.
“Children are healthier, happier, do better in school and are better citizens when they have the opportunity to connect with nature.” - Bill Rose, PhD President CEO, Kalamazoo Nature CenterSome helpful ideas to help get the kids out in the fresh air:
Limit Screen Time. Designate how often the television can be turned on and stick to it. Avoid using it just for noise, it's a waste of energy too. We use a chart for the boys to earn TV time by helping around the house, extra bonus.
No Structure. Just get wild and crazy and be spontaneous. See what happens when you don’t organize a game but just play. Will you go on a treasure hunt or perhaps race down a hill and then decide to roll? Just discover nature and what the free will of not having a structured activity does to you and the children.
Put Fear Aside. If you’re scared of the bugs and worms don’t push that fear onto your children. Let them touch the worms and find their own comfort level.
Indoor Toys Outside. Let the children paint outside at the easel, read a book in the grass, play ponies under a tree or dinosaurs on the play set.
Share. What did you do as a child? Did you stay up late and play flash light tag or build a fort out of sticks. Be a child again and share with your child what you loved most about childhood and playing outside.
Invite their friends. Plan a backyard camping slumber party or a group trip to the local park. Every family will benefit from it.
Need an even better excuse to kick the kids outside? A new study from the University of Illinois shows that kids who take a 20 minute walk in a park concentrated better afterwards than kids who walked 20 minutes in busier areas. Researchers believe that the greenness has a calming effect, especially beneficial to kids with ADD/ADHD.
How much time do your kids spend outside during the day?
Comments (12)
I don't have kids, but I can't imagine what it must be like for so many of today's kids, being stuck indoors. I think a lot of parents are afraid to let their kids go outside and play these days.
When I was little, though, I was always outside. We rode bikes, jumped rope, made up games that I can't even remember the names of now... And my parents used to take us on nature walks in the local parks.
It's kind of sad that kids (or their parents) have to make a conscious effort to play outside today. When I was a kid, it was second nature!
We try to get in two hours a day of outdoor time at the bare minimum in the summer months it's lots more... We take a long walk/run/playtime nearly every morning rain, shine, snow or sleet... Many times we end up taking our school books outside... most of our science experiments are done outside too... The children hardly ever have to see a doctor for an illness.... Healthy food, fresh air, and exercise are working for us...
dangerous ....
This is why kids summer camp program is open during holiday season. Every camp has its own learning objectives, for example the military camps focus on discipline and respect while scouting camps focus on enjoyment and social skills.
my little guy loves to be outside. He gets quite upset with me when its time to come in. He does not watch tv other then VeggieTales in the morning. And we dont have any of those useless game systems designed to keep kids in the house.
@stephyju2517@xanga - How so?
Good post and good suggestions. I love the idea of letting kids use their imagination, instead of telling them what to play. I think that's why a lot of toys are not very beneficial to kids now - they are meant to be played with one way and once a child figures it out, they get bored with it. However, a box can be a car, a house, a fort...
It's fun to sit back and watch children to see what they can come up with on their own.
i am not a mom, but i do babysit A LOT for my godchildren, an unruly set of twins a little over 2 years old. The other day i walked them to the park and their mom told me not to let them out at the playground, just to walk them in their stroller.
The playground is fenced in, and is for kids around their age- so i ignored her, and i have never seen those kids so happy before.
I'm just saying that i think that parents are now using their TVs and gadgets to babysit instead of having fun with their kids, and i think it's awesome that you posted this. I think parent's often forget what it was like to be a kid.. and how to get exercise without a workout plan. So thanks for this post!
no joke whenit is nice we ar eoutside for no less than 3 to 4 hours, we eat lunch out there play, do everything, they know the rules, if it is nice they are outside playing, no tv, no video games, they can color, or play board games on the porch if they want to but we have to be out there for a while! They are SO ,much calmer comign back in alot more dirty but calmer then mom can have five minutes to just sit!
It is wonderful when the weather allows for them to be outside. There is so much to learn from nature and all the things that they collect. All children need a time to be able to expend some energy. Seeing things for themselves will help them to remember easier.
This is so great. Reminded me of something I read about Horticultural therapy, of which I had never previously heard of. We need our Nature!!!!
Great post! My kiddos have mandatory outside time! I just kick them out and tell them to play! Okay that sounds harsh but it isn't. And they NEED that time! I love seeing them "draw" using sticks and leaves or just make up games, hunt under rocks for beetles, search for cameleons, build in the sand box.....etc. Kids need nature!!!!