Our kids are out of shape, tuned out, and stressed out because they’re missing something essential to their health and development: connection to the natural world. According to the report, Whole Child: Developing Mind, Body, and Spirit Through Outdoor Play, the benefits of getting kids in nature can be seen on many levels.
Body
Outdoor play increases fitness levels and builds active, healthy bodies, an important strategy in helping the one in three American kids who are obese get fit.
Spending time outside raises levels of vitamin D, helping protect children from future bone problems, heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues.
Being outside improves distance vision and lowers the chance of nearsightedness.
Outdoor exercise is better for children than indoors: Exercise can release soothing endorphins into the blood stream and can help with the production of melatonin. Outdoor play encourages activities such as climbing, jumping, running, and tumbling that promote muscle fitness and flexibility. Research shows that moderate to vigorous physical activity in childcare settings increased from one percent indoors to as much as 11 percent outdoors. When outdoor play was child-led, the amount of time further increased to 17 percent.
Mind
Exposure to natural settings may be widely effective in reducing ADHD symptoms.
Schools with environmental education programs score higher on standardized tests in math, reading, writing, and listening.
Exposure to environment-based education significantly increases student performance on tests of their critical thinking skills.
Spirit
Children’s stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces.
Play protects children’s emotional development, whereas loss of free time and a hurried lifestyle can contribute to anxiety and depression.
Nature makes children nicer, enhancing social interactions, value for community, and close relationships.
Sleep-inducing natural light: Regular doses of bright natural light help children stay more alert during the day, elevate their moods, and make it easier to sleep at night. Exposure to outdoor light in the morning actually helps set their body clock for a better and earlier night’s sleep.
Commentaires