Growing up over 20 years ago, I can truly say that some of my favorite memories took place in the great outdoors playing with my neighborhood friends. We'd get into all kinds of stuff like playing baseball in the street, biking up and down the neighborhood, and digging up trenches to bury our treasure. This of course was before the time of the internet, computers, and video games.
I am now an adult raising my own children and I have noticed a shift in what children used to do for fun to what they do for fun now. Children stay in the house so much that they probably don't even know what's outside. The computer and the television take up so much of their recreational time that they don't know how to play games like baseball or hide-n-seek. Despite this shift, though, it is your responsibility as a parent to make sure that your kids are spending time doing not just physical activities but enjoying the great outdoors. Don't let real sports die. Here are a few good reasons why your kids should be playing outside.
Improved Social Skills Kids who spend all of their time indoors never really learn how to socialize with other kids. Life is about partnerships, team building, and cooperation. In order to work well with other people you have to learn how to be social. Playing inside by yourself on the computer or on the television is not a good way to develop the social skills that are going to make you successful in life. These social skills will make them better able to relate and
Better Physical Condition Childhood obesity is one big problem facing America these days; twenty years ago, however, this was not a concern. Why? Because kids played outside. They ran, they jumped, they hit balls and got plenty of exercise. Kids who play inside can't get this same amount of exercise. The are often sitting down while playing video games or playing on the computer. Doing physical activities outside helps to ensure that your children are in good health physically.
Better Grades When reading an article about physical fitness, the last thing you expect to hear is that letting your kids play and have fun will positively affect their grades. In fact many people have been led to believe that the opposite is true. That is to say that if you force the child to study more than they play, the better they will do in school. This could not be further from the truth. When children are allowed to release their natural energy in a constructive way, it does two things. First, it increases blood and oxygen flow to the brain. Secondly, it allows them to focus without distraction on their studies because playing outside now becomes a reward they look forward to, even more than the video games.
The more we move into an age of advanced technology, the more we should keep in mind those things that got us to this point. Physical exercise and outdoor play is our friend and we shouldn't forget it.
I am now an adult raising my own children and I have noticed a shift in what children used to do for fun to what they do for fun now. Children stay in the house so much that they probably don't even know what's outside. The computer and the television take up so much of their recreational time that they don't know how to play games like baseball or hide-n-seek. Despite this shift, though, it is your responsibility as a parent to make sure that your kids are spending time doing not just physical activities but enjoying the great outdoors. Don't let real sports die. Here are a few good reasons why your kids should be playing outside.
Improved Social Skills Kids who spend all of their time indoors never really learn how to socialize with other kids. Life is about partnerships, team building, and cooperation. In order to work well with other people you have to learn how to be social. Playing inside by yourself on the computer or on the television is not a good way to develop the social skills that are going to make you successful in life. These social skills will make them better able to relate and
Better Physical Condition Childhood obesity is one big problem facing America these days; twenty years ago, however, this was not a concern. Why? Because kids played outside. They ran, they jumped, they hit balls and got plenty of exercise. Kids who play inside can't get this same amount of exercise. The are often sitting down while playing video games or playing on the computer. Doing physical activities outside helps to ensure that your children are in good health physically.
Better Grades When reading an article about physical fitness, the last thing you expect to hear is that letting your kids play and have fun will positively affect their grades. In fact many people have been led to believe that the opposite is true. That is to say that if you force the child to study more than they play, the better they will do in school. This could not be further from the truth. When children are allowed to release their natural energy in a constructive way, it does two things. First, it increases blood and oxygen flow to the brain. Secondly, it allows them to focus without distraction on their studies because playing outside now becomes a reward they look forward to, even more than the video games.
The more we move into an age of advanced technology, the more we should keep in mind those things that got us to this point. Physical exercise and outdoor play is our friend and we shouldn't forget it.
About the Author:
Dorthy Weatherbush believes that all children should be forced to play outside so that they can get all of the exercise that they need and not have to end up on a Medifast diet. While diets like Medifast are great for adults, children should not have to worry about weight issues or dieting.
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