Last Sunday, the Patriot News shared an article citing the American Academy of Pediatrics and the recommendation for playing outside. Here is a list of benefits for children;
*Better school performance. Time spent in nature and increased fitness improve cognitive function.
*More creativity. Outdoor play uses and nurtures the imagination.
*Much higher levels of fitness. Kids are more active when they are outdoors.
*More friends. Children who organize their own games and participate in unstructured group activities are less solitary and learn to interact with their peers.
*Less depression and hyperactivity. Time in nature is soothing, improves mood and reduces stress. It can also increase kids’ attention span, because things move at a slower pace than they do on the screen.
*Stronger bones. Exposure to natural light helps prevent vitamin D deficiency, making outdoorsy children less vulnerable to bone problems, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other health issues.
*Improved eyesight. Time spent outdoors can help combat increasing diagnoses of nearsightedness.
*Better sleep. Exposure to natural light, and lots of physical activity, help reset a child’s natural sleep rhythms.
*A longer life span and healthier adult life. Active kids are more likely to grow into active adults.
