While the benefits of playing outside are well-known to adults, it's often hard for parents to convince their kids that staying active is important. In fact, a recent study found that less than half of children meet national guidelines for physical activity. This is concerning because children who are inactive are more likely to be overweight or obese as adults -- which can lead to health problems like heart disease and diabetes down the road. Here are some of the many ways spending time outdoors can help your child stay fit:
Kids are more likely to play outside when given the chance.
As you can see, there are many benefits to letting your kids play outside. If you don't want them spending too much time indoors, try setting aside some time each day for outdoor fun. The next time you're thinking of going on an adventure with your children, consider taking them somewhere new and exciting instead of the same old places they've been before.
Be sure that when you do choose an activity for them to do outdoors, it's something that will spark their interest: whether it be swimming in a pool or playing sports on grassy fields (or both), these activities will help keep their bodies active while also improving social skills at home with friends who may come over during play dates!
Playing outside can help kids develop motor skills.
Playing is an important part of a child's development, and playing outside is no exception. Kids who engage in free play--running around, jumping, and climbing--are developing their motor skills. These skills are crucial for sports like baseball and basketball as well as dance classes or other activities requiring coordination (for instance, martial arts). Playing outside also helps children develop their brains; studies show that kids who spend lots of time playing are often more creative and better problem solvers than those who don't get out much.
Playing outside can help kids develop their brains.
Playing outside is an engaging way for children to learn problem-solving skills and social skills, which are both important for overall development. Playing games like tag or hide-and-seek will help your child develop better communication skills as they try to strategize with others about how best to win the game. Other outdoor activities like biking, skating, or skateboarding teach balance and coordination--skills that will carry over into other areas of life as well.
The real benefit of playing outside isn't just physical fitness though: it's also mental health! Kids who have more time playing freely in nature tend to have higher self-esteem than those who spend most of their time indoors watching TV or playing video games (which we'll talk about more next).
Playing outside can improve sports performance and not just overall fitness levels.
Playing outside is an excellent way to improve sports performance and not just overall fitness levels. The more you play, the better you'll get at sports, which can help you become a better athlete in all areas of your life.
Playing outside also helps develop a variety of skills that will make you better at whatever sport or activity you choose to pursue. These include:
Balance - Playing on uneven ground helps children learn how their bodies move in different positions so they can improve their balance when playing games that require them to stand still or move quickly (such as basketball). In addition, children who play on hills or slopes may be able to run faster than those who don't because they have learned how gravity affects them when running downhill or uphill respectively
Play dates with friends aren't just fun -- they're a great way to build friendships and teamwork skills.
Your child's play dates with friends aren't just fun -- they're a great way to build friendships and teamwork skills. Here are some of the things that kids learn from playing with their peers:
How to share. When kids have toys in common, they learn how to share them with each other. This can be hard at first, but as kids get older and more confident, they'll find ways of dividing up the toys so everyone gets a turn using them (and sometimes even trading).
How to compromise when something isn't working out as planned. Kids aren't always going to agree on everything; sometimes one kid wants something while another doesn't want anything at all! Being able to compromise on these issues helps children navigate real-world situations later on in life when disagreements arise over things like what movie choice will be made during family movie night or where everyone eats dinner out at restaurants every weeknight after work ends.
Children who spend more time playing are less likely to be overweight or obese, which means they're more likely to be healthier adults someday
Play is important for development. It's a time when children learn how to communicate, socialize and problem-solve. They also gain a sense of confidence in themselves as they master new skills. Play helps build healthy bodies by promoting physical activity, which can lead to better brain function later in life.
Play is important for health. Playing outside is one-way kids can get exercise--but so is playing indoors! Active video games are another option that gives kids an opportunity to burn calories while still having fun (and staying indoors).
Play is important for mental health. When we're having fun with friends or family members, it makes us feel happy and relaxed--and those feelings have been linked with lower stress levels over time! Even though some people think that being too serious all the time isn't good either; it turns out there really isn't such thing as "too much playtime." In fact, most studies show people who laugh more often tend to live longer than those who don't smile very often at all so try finding ways each day where everyone involved can laugh together whether it's watching funny videos online after school gets out each day before heading home together safely afterward knowing nothing bad happened during the class today either.
Conclusion
For children, playing outside is a great way to exercise and stay fit. It can also help kids develop important skills that will last them a lifetime. Whether they're playing with friends or just running around on their own, taking advantage of the outdoors is always going to be beneficial for kids who want more than just gym class when they go back to school this fall!
