Play Time

The benefits are clear. Scientists have studied the effects of better fitness and outdoor play time on our children. Their findings are nothing short of incredible:

Girls with a more natural view (trees, grass, shrubs) performed better on standardized performance measures of concentration compared to girls who looked at a more barren setting (buildings, dirt, or paved surfaces).

Children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) had milder ADD symptoms after engaging in play outside versus playing inside. The “greener” the play setting (parks, farms, places with tall trees, grass, or natural water sources), the milder the symptoms.

Participation in frequent vigorous physical activity - like brisk walking, running, biking, and active outdoor playing is important for healthy growth and development among children and adolescents. There is strong evidence showing beneficial effects of physical activity on muscle strength and endurance, bone health and cardiovascular health.

A positive association has also been found between physical activity and improvements in concentration, memory, and classroom behavior.

So, what can we parents do?
Encourage daily physical activity or active physical education time that helps children learn new skills and is of at least moderate intensity. For the best results experts suggest our children enjoy at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week (preferably daily). Make it fun. Encourage them to explore nature in the local park. To run and jump rope. Get your child a bicycle. Encourage anything your children have fun doing.

Talk to your children's teachers and encourage them to promote outdoor activities. Provide access to the outdoors through unstructured play time. Perhaps they can conduct classroom lessons that incorporate the outdoors. Do all you can to keep your children safe. Find safe, child-friendly environments (such as, accessible playgrounds and roads that have sidewalks and crosswalks).

Help children and parents learn about the health and environmental benefits of choosing to walk or bike to school, work, or to run errands. Find routes that help make these choices easy and safe.