The importance of outdoor play for children
Children
are spending an increasing amount of time indoors due to all the
technology that can be easily accessed inside their homes. The
internet, television, mobile phones, gaming consoles and tablets have
replaced traditional outdoor games, such as hopscotch, hide and go
seek, tag and field sports. Outdoor play offers social, mental and
physical benefits for children. Outdoor play is an essential part of
summer camps, where technology isn’t allowed and children can
overcome their “nature deficit disorder”.
Here are five reasons why you should send your kids to summer camp for them to indulge in outdoor play:
1. Combat Obesity
Due to technology turning our kids into couch potatoes, lack of exercise is the main reason why kids are becoming obese. Children should be active for at least an hour a day, which means they should be running, climbing and jumping in the outdoors. Summer camp programs have kids active in the outdoors all day long whilst still having fun. This is a great way for them to stay fit without being pressurized to participate in physically challenging activities for the sole purpose of staying fit and losing weight.
2. Improve Mental Health
Spending time outdoors has been found to increase lifespan, reduce symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety, decrease smoking rates and reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Spending time outdoors is also beneficial for immunity development, due to our bodies being able to create important vitamin D after sunlight exposure. Summer camps are all about being outdoors and exposed to the sun, which will contribute to a great state of mental health for your children.
3. Connect with Nature
Being exposed to the outdoors will help our kids to value the importance of nature. Noticing the increase in climate change, extreme weather patterns, extinction of wildlife and run down the quality of plants, will encourage them to be mindful of their impact on our planet. Summer camps teach kids about caring for the planet and integrate these lessons into their program, which is a great way for our kids to connect with nature and save the planet.
4. Develop Skills
Through experiential and physical education, which is best practiced in the outdoors, children are able to learn various important life skills such as problem-solving, social skills, negotiation, and creativity. The interaction between children will teach them self-control and how to abide by rules. At summer camps, children have no choice but to explore, which helps them build courage and teaches them to assess risks independently.
5. Activate Creativity
Playing in the outdoors will force your children to activate their creativity because having no access to technology will force them to be innovative and make use of their imagination. Just like how it was generations ago, children will be able to integrate pieces of nature into their games by using their imagination. Think of when toys were too expensive and we made use of sticks as magic wands and stones were the substitutes to marbles. Giving your kids a break from their screens and sending them to summer camp will allow them to activate their creativity, which will greatly be of use in their future.
Don’t let your child miss out on the wonderful advantages of being exposed to the outdoors. Sending them to summer camp to gain this experience in a safe and controlled environment will be a great investment in their lives.
Follow Sugar Bay on Twitter & stay up-to-date on evrything happening at camp in real time.
Here are five reasons why you should send your kids to summer camp for them to indulge in outdoor play:
1. Combat Obesity
Due to technology turning our kids into couch potatoes, lack of exercise is the main reason why kids are becoming obese. Children should be active for at least an hour a day, which means they should be running, climbing and jumping in the outdoors. Summer camp programs have kids active in the outdoors all day long whilst still having fun. This is a great way for them to stay fit without being pressurized to participate in physically challenging activities for the sole purpose of staying fit and losing weight.
2. Improve Mental Health
Spending time outdoors has been found to increase lifespan, reduce symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety, decrease smoking rates and reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Spending time outdoors is also beneficial for immunity development, due to our bodies being able to create important vitamin D after sunlight exposure. Summer camps are all about being outdoors and exposed to the sun, which will contribute to a great state of mental health for your children.
3. Connect with Nature
Being exposed to the outdoors will help our kids to value the importance of nature. Noticing the increase in climate change, extreme weather patterns, extinction of wildlife and run down the quality of plants, will encourage them to be mindful of their impact on our planet. Summer camps teach kids about caring for the planet and integrate these lessons into their program, which is a great way for our kids to connect with nature and save the planet.
4. Develop Skills
Through experiential and physical education, which is best practiced in the outdoors, children are able to learn various important life skills such as problem-solving, social skills, negotiation, and creativity. The interaction between children will teach them self-control and how to abide by rules. At summer camps, children have no choice but to explore, which helps them build courage and teaches them to assess risks independently.
5. Activate Creativity
Playing in the outdoors will force your children to activate their creativity because having no access to technology will force them to be innovative and make use of their imagination. Just like how it was generations ago, children will be able to integrate pieces of nature into their games by using their imagination. Think of when toys were too expensive and we made use of sticks as magic wands and stones were the substitutes to marbles. Giving your kids a break from their screens and sending them to summer camp will allow them to activate their creativity, which will greatly be of use in their future.
Don’t let your child miss out on the wonderful advantages of being exposed to the outdoors. Sending them to summer camp to gain this experience in a safe and controlled environment will be a great investment in their lives.
Follow Sugar Bay on Twitter & stay up-to-date on evrything happening at camp in real time.
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