How Playing Outside Keeps Kids Happy and Healthy

About the Authors: Dave and Sheree Swistun are owners of Duck Bay Lodge, a fishing resort located in Lake of the Woods, Ontario, Canada. Built more than 60 years ago, they are the fourth owners, having purchased Duck Bay Lodge in 1988.

​Today’s kids are busier than ever, and their calendars are packed with school and extracurricular activities. Even play can be scheduled down to the minute and overly structured to the point where kids aren’t so much playing as they are following a routine. This is not helped by the fact that many children today spend so much time in child care centers while their parents work. A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that preschoolers averaged just 48 minutes per day of active playtime while they were in day care. The same study also concluded that children were far more likely to be active while they were outdoors, making getting kids out into nature a high priority.
 
Being active and playing outdoors has numerous short-term and long-term benefits for children, especially children under 10 years old. According to the National Wildlife Federation, not only does active play outdoors help kids in terms of physical fitness, but it also helps stimulate their minds and spirits by reducing stress levels and developing abstract problem-solving skills. Among the primary benefits of active play outdoors according to the federation include:
 

• Kids get more exposure to natural sunlight, which increases Vitamin D production within the body and leads to stronger bones and reduction in the risk of health problems like heart disease.
• More opportunities for exercise, which builds healthier bodies and reduces the risk for obesity.
• Children who participate in environmental education programs at school have been shown to test higher on standardized tests in reading, writing and math.
• Exposure to nature has been proven to reduce stress levels in children, something that has become more important as children’s lives become increasingly regimented and hectic.
• Unstructured outdoor play gives children a chance to relax and play at their own pace, which leads to healthier emotional development.

 
Getting Out There
Given how important getting outside and playing is for young kids, parents should take the responsibility to encourage their families to spend more time outdoors and explore nature in ways that stimulate kids’ curiosity and enthusiasm. Fortunately, there are many ways families can get together and play in the great outdoors that can go a long way toward getting kids to enjoy healthier and more productive lifestyles now and later in life.
 
Here are some suggestions for activities you and your family can do outside to help your children discover the benefits of playing outdoors and create more opportunities for them to spend time outside:

• Running: A family run is a good opportunity to spend time together and engage in a little healthy competition as you and your kids race one another.
• Fishing: The classic low-key outdoor activity, a family fishing trip provides plenty of opportunities for conversation as you take in the sights and sensations of being surrounded by nature.
• Bicycle riding: A family bike ride could serve two purposes: giving you some much-needed activity outside as well as an eco-friendly means of getting somewhere you need to go.
• Bird watching: Kids love video games where they’re encouraged to “catch them all,” and bird watching is a great substitution for sitting in front of a screen. Giving kids a journal to catalog the types of birds they find in the backyard or out in the woods can encourage them to get active and spend a lot of time outdoors.
• Nature photography: This can be a good way to blend kids’ love of technology with the outdoors, as they can take their digital cameras and smartphones with them on a hike to capture as many sights as they can find. Turning the day into a photographic scavenger hunt helps push kids to take a closer look at their surroundings.
• Camping: Even if it’s just in the backyard, setting up a campfire and a tent is a great way to get your kids to spend some quality time with nature.
• Nature toys: Giving your kids some toys or tools they can use outdoors can be the push they need to get outside. In addition to sports equipment like bats and balls, toys like bug boxes, gardening tools, and magnifying glasses or binoculars give kids a great reason to go outside and explore.