How to Encourage Children to Play Outdoors More
Nowadays, it seems that most children spend their time indoors playing on the computer or games console. While it’s good for children to get to grips with technology from an early age, it is also important for them to enjoy the many benefits that come with playing outdoors.
Why should children play outdoors more?
There are many reasons why children should play outside more. Children are able to develop their creativity, independence, and social skills by playing outdoors. They also exercise, which is especially important when you consider the rise of child obesity. It is also important to reduce the amount of time your children spends on the computer. Do you really know what your kids are doing online? While the Internet is full of many amazing things, it’s also dangerous. It’s hard to monitor your child’s Internet usage if they are on the computer all of the time. This is why limiting computer usage and encouraging outdoor play is a great idea. Reducing computer and video game time can also help to reduce the risk of overexposure to harmful blue light. This could increase a children’s risk of macular degeneration later in life.
How can you encourage your kids to play outside more?
Getting your children to play outside more can seem a struggle, but there are plenty of creative ways you can get them outdoors, including:
- Set challenges – Give your children various challenges to do. Think of the TV series ‘Survivor’ – although a bit less extreme, of course! This adds extra excitement to outdoor play, especially if there is a reward at the end of it. The trophiesplusmedals.co.uk website has loads of different trophies that are great for rewards for outdoor challenges. Make sure you spread out the challenges over various days, however, otherwise you will find yourself giving out a lot of trophies, and the novelty will wear off quickly.
- Add water – Children love playing with water, so this is a great way to tempt them outside. As a cognitive activity, it can lay a foundation for mathematical and scientific learning. As a sensory activity, it aids brain development. Needless to say, children don’t really care about this; they just like to splash about.
- Take time to explore a number of outdoor environments – When it comes to outdoor play; think beyond your own back garden. Depending on where you live, visit a farm, nature reserve, park, botanical garden, river, or beach. Children love visiting new places, and they will get more of the great outdoors to explore.
- Spend time together outdoors as a family – If you are outdoors, your children will be encouraged to be outdoors too. There are plenty of ways you can have fun outside together, from involving your children in washing the car to evening walks together.
- Take the indoors out – Finally, take toys that your children enjoy using outside and encourage them to explore and play with them in new ways. Whether it’s dress-up items or figurines, your children get to explore a whole new world of possibilities when their toys are taken outside.
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