We must teach our children to smell the earth, to taste the rain, to touch the wind, to see things grow, to see the sun rise and night fall- to care.
John Cleal
According to Pediatric Occupational Therapist and co-founder of Timbernook, children need to spend 3 hours per day outside. Did you just start calculating how much outside time your kids are getting? I know I did when I read that, and my kids, or our oldest at least, is outside a lot! Reading that statement had me thinking though, and wondering if I was providing enough outside time. Then I read the follow up- the average child in America spends 4-7 minutes playing outside each day. 4-7 minutes! I can state for a fact that my children spend more than 4-7 minutes per day outside. Let’s face it- it takes me longer than that to feed all of the animals around here and they tag along. Sometimes they help, but mostly they just wreak havoc… and play.
Listen, making sure your littles are outside enough and having a good time exploring all of the things is a lot of work for parents. I get it, I truly do! In the winter it’s hats and gloves, and around here in the good ol’ Pacific Northwest it’s wet always. In the summer it’s sunscreen and hats and making sure they are getting enough water. The list never really ends, it just changes as they get older. For me personally, if I know the “why” behind something I am far more likely to buy into it and stick with it, so lets look at some “why”s.
Overall Health and Well Being
Children who spend adequate amounts of time outside are also typically getting an adequate amount of vitamin D. These children also experience lower levels of obesity and lower risks of nearsightedness (which I had NO clue of!) They also are exposed to a such a variety of things in a natural setting that studies have also shown boosts in immune function of children who spend large amounts of their time outside.
I think it’s a widely accepted fact that spending time in nature, breathing in fresh air, hearing birds chirp, and just getting your hands and feet in the dirt lower stress and anxiety, and it has also been proven to lower depression levels in children. If you have a child who is impulsive and gets angry often, send them outside. Nature has a calming effect on these children, and some experts believe it has to do with how large the outdoors feel to children (and me too!) Inside, children can feel boxed in and trapped, and coupled with anxiety and anger can make for a very rough day. Being outside gives a child the chance to run and yell and jump without the confines of a small room.
Children also tend to play harder outside than they do inside, which leads to improved gross motor skills (those BIG muscles), greater self awareness and an appreciation for cause and effect, as well as more appreciation for nature in general, which leads to a better chance that those children will care for the environment as adults.
How Should They Play?
As adults, it is easy for us to want to structure every part of our children’s day. I am just as guilty of this as the next person because I feel like if I don’t have a plan in my head the whole day will fall apart. Anyone else? Let me give you permission to let go of a little control.
Most of children’s play, including that which happens outside, should be “free” play. This means the children have the tools they need to create their own games, their own art, etc. without a ton of adult intervention. The ones who are let to be free outside (safely) really hone in on their creativity, expand their curiosity, as well as expanding their critical thinking. Without us chirping in their ears constantly, they are free to explore and trust me when I say, they will surprise you with what they can discover on their own.
Being outside with some safe freedom also fosters a very healthy sense of independence. When children know they are safe, and they are encouraged to explore, they use all 5 of their senses and really expand on who they are. It is the most rewarding thing to witness!
When Should They Play Outside?
Always! I read another quote recently, and I don’t honestly remember who said it, but it was “Today’s kids are used to comfort and instant gratification.” Well, when you point it out…. they are! We don’t have cable, but we do have some streaming services and not long ago our oldest was watching a kids show and lost her mind over a commercial that I couldn’t skip past. It dawned on me that she has never had to watch commercials. All she knows is push a button and BOOM! The show is back on. Watching how she navigated that minor inconvenience was an eye opening moment for me.
Being outdoors in all weather, while sometimes unpleasant, teaches us to navigate physical difficulties because nature is unpredictable. It does the same for the little ones. It also teaches us all to handle emotional difficulty and builds resilience. Our situation could be a little different than most, but the principle is still there. We have to go out in all weather because our livestock needs to eat no matter the weather. They actually eat more when the weather is bad because they need more calories to keep themselves warm, so my girls don’t have much of a choice. Is it more pleasant in the summer with a cool breeze and the sun shining down on us? Of course it is! That doesn’t change the fact that we go out every single day. We make it more enjoyable by dressing for the conditions, but outside we go no matter what.
Outdoor play in most conditions (of course extreme weather needs to be regarded as such) teaches children to push through uncomfortable situations, which builds confidence and motivation. It can also help them work through fears they may have.
Bottom line is being outside is good for all of us, but our children NEED it, and the sad fact is most of them aren’t getting it. I challenge you to start working your outside time up over the next few weeks and really watch your kids. Do you see a difference in behavior, excitement, just their overall happiness? I bet you do, but if nothing else, they will be so much easier to get to sleep at night.
~Tara