Most, if not all, parents want their children to grow up healthy, physically fit, and happy. In today’s busy world, it is important to allocate time to assist kids in developing good behavior that adds to a lifelong endeavor on wellness.
One of the greatest gifts parents can give to their children is to get them to play outdoors. In the modern world, many children stay indoors playing video games, watching TV, texting on their smartphones and tablets, etc.
Due to the increased access to technology and perhaps parents’ fear of letting their children wander, more and more children go out less often than in the olden days.
A nature walk is an excellent way to stimulate a child’s appreciation for the natural world. Go for a nature walk with your children and ask them to tell you what they see, hear, smell or feel.
Please encourage them to feel the texture of rocks, barks of trees, and dried-up leaves. These are science experiences for young inquisitive minds.
By staying in the outdoors and being surrounded by nature, children experience a free-flowing environment that enhances all their senses. Playing outside is vital in improving a child’s emotional, intellectual, physical, and social state.
1. Nature is Important in Intellectual Improvement
Our natural world may be viewed as a huge, ever-changing learning place. Children are naturally inborn scientists, and they like to discover new scents, sights, sounds, and textures of the outdoors.
Nature gives numerous chances for making discoveries, being creative and solving problems.
By being in the outdoors, children can learn by performing and experimenting with different ideas. A child thinks, questions, and forms a hypothesis about a situation in a natural environment, resulting in an inquisitive mind.
2. A Natural Environment Enhances Emotional Change
It surely feels really great being in the outdoors. Children have a chance to explore, wander and interact with other children freely. These are interesting self-expression acts that are usually restricted in an indoor environment.
In a natural environment, kids can jump, hop, skip rope, climb, run, and roll, make noise, and so on. Such activities bring relaxation and reduce stress and anxiety.
Scientists have discovered that playing outside calms children who suffer from Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Additionally, nature stimulates a peaceful state and usually enhances nurturing behavior in kids.
3. The Outdoors Promote Socialization
By playing outdoors, children may get a chance to interact with their peers. In a natural environment, kids may play in solitude or connect with others and learn to share and solve problems.
Nature allows kids to collaborate to create games and rules as there are no set instructions. School-going children can create their own rules and solve problems when they’re not in proximity to grownups.
At most times, when playing outside, boisterous kids might learn to calm down and become gentler. Furthermore, they may learn how to be emphatic and console a friend in need.
4. Nature Promotes Physical Fitness
Nature is full of fresh air, which is invigorating and provides countless opportunities for children to engage in physical activities. Being physically active enhances a strong body.
Kids are exposed to sunlight which means that the vitamin D in their bodies gets to be synthesized. Vitamin D has numerous benefits, which include the creation of a strong immune system.
In a natural environment, children get to be physically active, which may help burn calories and enhance overall fitness.
Tip: While small kids benefit in numerous ways from playing in the outdoors, they still require adult supervision. Your kid’s outdoor play will be even better if you participate as well. As a concerned parent, you should guide your young one to explore new activities that might look difficult.
Final Words
In conclusion, there’s a collective advantage of being in the outdoors. Kids across the world play in nature, forming a unity of common experiences. Children are the future generations of the earth.
To bring up adults who care about nurturing and protecting the natural environment and preserving our planet, they need to develop a passion for it. Also, if you want to know about stargazing for kids, you have an amazing article about that too!
Who am I? A Montessori educator.
What a pleasure to recognize and interpret each child’s needs!
How exciting to help children become self-reliant and support them in their process of self-development.
I am also truly passionate about guiding adults in building their relationship with children.
Share your thoughts…wonderful discussion