Why It Is Important To Play Outside

Children of the 21st century are immersed in technology and stop playing outside. For parents it is comfortable to leave them locked up instead of benefiting from exercise and contact with nature with them.

Play is essential in the lives of the little ones. However, more and more children in cities stop playing outdoors, depriving themselves of the many benefits it brings to their physical, mental and emotional health.

Boys spend most of their free time watching television, playing video games, or online. It is more comfortable for parents to be at home or in their room, because they can let them play without further supervision. Thus, its comfort has deprived the children of the joy of playing outside.

This also adds children to the newest addictions to video games and electronic devices. However, it seems that it is a reality that affects the minors of large cities more. Not so much to those who live in smaller towns with greater free spaces around them.

Contact with nature

The lack of contact with nature that adults and children experience in the 21st century has led psychologists to talk about the existence of Nature Deficit Disorder, as this study published in Naturopathic Medicine points out . This discomfort is associated with problems such as poor concentration, hyperactivity, obesity, depression, and anxiety.

The way to remedy this ailment is very simple: it is enough to allow children to reconnect with nature. The simple act of breathing fresh air, crawling on the grass, running through the trees, smelling the scent of flowers or appreciating the flight of birds are fundamental experiences in the lives of children.

Playing outside allows them to relax and rediscover the tranquility that the hyperconnectivity of electronic devices and network games robs them. This improves their attention and concentration skills, which are essential to assume their school responsibilities.

Playing outside is good for all ages

Do not wait until children are a certain age to play outside. Since they are babies they can benefit from contact with nature. Thus, even if they are asleep, your little ones benefit from walking in a park, a natural area  or the garden.

These pleasant sensations are etched in your memory forever. As they grow, children will love playing outside, where they have contact with the sun, the breeze, the scents and sounds of nature.

Nature gives them contact with a lot of situations and new learnings that are hardly comparable to the informative vertigo offered by the internet or online games. In turn,  parents also benefit from contact with nature.

We release stress, we rest mentally and we share pleasant moments of fun and meeting with the family, which strengthen the bond of love that binds us to the children. And so this work carried out by professionals from the University of Valencia points out.

Benefits of playing outside

Outdoor games have many benefits for babies, children, and teens. Of course, they demand that parents be vigilant to avoid accidents. If children are going to play in a very large park, a beach or a field, supervision is also necessary to prevent them from getting lost.

• Children play with a sense of freedom, even when controlled by parents. It is a different experience than playing inside a home.
• Playing outside improves physical development, as they exercise, can run, jump, and develop new skills.
• Extra physical activity allows them to discharge energy and tension. Thus, they  come home much more relaxed and sleep better.
• It is also possible to prevent childhood obesity, since they burn a lot of calories in a natural and healthy way.
• Playing outside fuels imagination and creativity. They invent new hobbies and are able to play with a branch or a stone.

• Contact with nature strengthens the immune system. They become more resistant to all kinds of bacteria and dust.
• Children learn to adapt to various atmospheric conditions, from the sun to the rain and the wind.
• Contact with the sun is essential in the absorption of vitamin D and calcium, which strengthens the growing bones of the little ones.
• They come into contact with other children, which favors socialization. This allows them to cultivate new friendships, manage emotions and conflicts that may arise.
• For adolescents, the possibility of going camping not only benefits them from contact with nature, but also invites them to take on new responsibilities.

The importance of playing outside

Playing outside provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy family time. Parents and children, even the extended family that includes grandparents, uncles, and cousins, benefit from these encounters in the shade of a tree, by the current of a river, or by camping on a mountain.

Organize family plans that allow you to enjoy nature and share precious moments of union and meeting with the most loved ones. All the effort will be worth it.