Remember when riding a bicycle down the street or roller-skating at high speeds down a sloped sidewalk was not only fun, but also a healthy and exciting way to spend a warm sunny afternoon?
Make sure, when your children are grown, that they also have fond memories of playing outside on a sunny day, and learning about the wonders of nature, from the safety of their own back yard.
Some Small Children Kept Inside Due to Parental Fear
Parents of yesteryear could send their children outside to play, without the same fears or worries parents of today face. Horror stories of abductions, child molestations, and child murders, shown regularly on the evening news, have forced this generation of new parents to seek alternative fun for their small children, in an effort to keep them safe. Parents now-a-days need to be more watchful of their toddlers when they play outdoors, sitting in the yard with them, or sitting indoors, close to an open window, where you can both see and hear the child at play, is a necessity.
Health Related Reason for Taking a Child out to Play
Obesity in toddlers and young pre-school-age children is at an all time high, due in part to the lack of outside activities children are able to participate in. Aside from obesity there are many other health related reasons young children should be allowed to play outside. Running, jumping, playing catch, all help to build stronger muscles in children, along with aiding them in the development of hand eye coordination.
Share Nature with Young Children — Enjoy Watching Them Learn
While it is true that parents of today must be more protective and cautious than parents of a mere generation ago, there are still many ways a child can safely benefit from playing and learning outside. Nature makes a wondrous classroom. With the proper guidance from parents, there are many interesting things, found in a backyard or a local park, which a young child can learn about. Listed below are a few things a parent can teach their youngster about nature.
- Bugs — most backyards are filled with a host of assorted bugs. Teach which bugs are harmless and which bugs, such as wasps or bees, should be left alone.
- Trees — teach the child the different names of trees. Explain how leaves turn colors in the fall, or fall off entirely in the winter. Gather up a few fallen leaves and show how the veins run through the leaves.
- Weeds — teach a child which weeds to stay away from, like poison ivy or oak, and which weeds can be fun, like dandelions. Explain how a dandelion that has gone to seed can be blown into the wind, spreading seeds for new plants.
- Birds — teach the child the difference between a robin, and a bluebird. Scatter seeds or bread crumbs in the yard and let the child watch and enjoy as the birds come to feed.
- Squirrels — point out a squirrel to the child. If the squirrel happens to be carrying a nut, explain how the squirrel will likely hide the nut, and return for it later when it is hungry.
- Rocks — pile up small rocks and teach the child to count them. Addition and subtraction can be easily illustrated by adding or subtracting rocks from the pile.
- Sun — explain how staring at the sun can be harmful, or how easy it is to get a sunburn. Show the child the way it feels to have the sun warm their face or hands.
- Clouds — explain how the clouds sometimes form and make rain, or try to make shapes out of the clouds the child sees.
- Stars — take the child outside in the evening and teach them about the stars, the moon, and the planets. Watch for falling stars while enjoying the early evening with your child.
Spending the afternoon with a child, pointing, talking, and laughing, about the many wonders found in nature, is not only educational but also socially stimulating for both the parent and the child.
Nature — Healthy and Educational Benefits for Small Children
Children love playing outside. Making a child’s outdoor activities an educational adventure in nature, is a great way for your child to learn while engaging in a healthy, safe, and stimulating environment.
Sources:
Discovery and Play: Children Benefit from the Great Outdoors, 2010, NACCRRA
Prescription for healthy kids: Go outside and play, September 25, 2010, Catherine Candisky, The Columbus Dispatch
Kelly Dupree - My love of animals, especially cats, and my interest in science has led to a serious passion to write well researched articles.
