The majority of children simply aren’t active enough, as just 20 to 28 percent of children are getting the recommended daily hour of physical activity, highlights the 2024 U.S. Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. With benefits that include improved sleep, development of strong bones and muscles, and a reduced risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, an active lifestyle is essential for children of all ages. From how you can introduce fun ways to exercise to the value in screen time boundaries, time spent outdoors can become second nature.
Exercise can be fun
In addition to the physical health benefits, regular exercise can benefit your child’s mental health, too. For example, physical activity can build confidence, and help manage anxiety. Len Saunders, physical health educator and author, explains that exercise releases endorphins, which “correlates to a happy child.” One of the best ways to encourage your child to get outdoors and play is by helping them realize that doing so can be enjoyable. Sports are a great way to do this, and there are no shortage of options to choose from. Organized sports are often ideal for children to get into (as they promote an active schedule via regular practices and games), though sports can even make their way into your backyard whether you have a single basketball or a baseball and a catcher’s mitt. Skateboard lessons are another way to make outdoor activity fun, offering a unique opportunity for your child to stay active while learning a new skill.
If your child isn’t very interested in the outdoors, you can encourage them to pursue an interest in sports in another way. Quality time spent on a shared interest like baseball, for instance, can be ideal when the goal is to find common ground in relation to an active lifestyle. The creation of a collection is just one great way to get into sports together, specifically when it comes to the lore behind it all. A collection of baseball memorabilia, for instance, can take on a whole new significance when your child understands the significance of key players. Online resources present the perfect way to learn, as well-researched baseball biographies unveil the stories behind icons and newer players alike from a variety of different teams. From on-field achievements to the personal challenges and triumphs of each individual, key players can be brought to life and can even inspire your child to follow a similar path.
Nature is nurture
An indoor play park can keep your child preoccupied and physically active for an afternoon, though the great outdoors can often prove to be the better choice. Nature can play a key role in an active and healthy lifestyle, and benefits mental health in a variety of ways, too. The Child Mind Institute highlights the many advantages associated with time spent in nature — not only can it build confidence, but nature promotes creativity and imagination, teaches responsibility, and provides different stimulation. “As the young spend less of their lives in natural surroundings, their senses narrow,” notes Richard Louv, author of the book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder. Louv goes on to note that this “reduces the richness of human experience.”
Don’t underestimate healthy boundaries
Screen time is at an all time high in today’s modern world, and while kids can use screens as an educational tool, too much time spent online can have significant downsides. One University of California San Francisco cites UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals’ Jason Nagata, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics and screen time researcher in regard to the impact of screen use and health concerns. “The more time teens spend on social media, the less connected they feel to others,” Nagata explains. For preteens, Nagata notes that excessive screen time is linked to behavior disorders, such as conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder.
Healthy boundaries with technology can be a great way to get your kids off of the internet and into the great outdoors. To make the endeavor of abandoning the WiFi for a while more enjoyable, a gamified challenge can help. One easy challenge involves the creation of a list of various items that can be found in nature (a flower, a pinecone, a unique rock, a ladybug, etc.). From there, challenge your child to find each item on the list while on a ‘nature walk’ together in the backyard. Not only does this gamify the experience of going outside, but challenges your child to seek out nature in a way that engages their attention.
Despite the many benefits associated with an active lifestyle, the majority of children simply aren’t active enough, even though the great outdoors is often found right in our own backyard. With a variety of advantages associated with nature, a healthy and active lifestyle can take form when the benefits are acknowledged and healthy boundaries are set when it comes to concerns like screen time.
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