HOW TO PROMOTE OUTDOOR PLAY IN CHILDREN

HOW TO PROMOTE OUTDOOR PLAY IN CHILDREN

“If the world is a canvas!! Let them paint, draw, collect, share and build!”

This beautiful quote seamlessly encapsulates the idea about how we can encourage the children in outdoor play activities and games.  These activities are considered to be one of the most vital parts essentially needed in the growth of child’s well-being and healthy learning approaches. Helping them integrate it into their daily lives is a big obligation in modern parenting — yet many parents in today’s scenario are dismayed to find their wards not interested in playing outdoor sports rather tend to swap active outdoor recreation for more sedentary activities that largely includes screen watching often to the detriment of their health and decreasing quality of life.

In this blog, we’ll help you by elucidating few key points how you can get your kids step out of their bedroom areas and spend some constructive time in outdoor playing simultaneously improving their health, continuous learning process and above all adopting an energetic adult lifestyle and witness how you’ll soon be on the way to experience all exciting outdoor adventures with your kids with active participation.

• Keep Yourself Buoyant and Excited

Start out with a leisure walk in the park or an excursion to a local playground, then work your way up to bigger outdoor adventures. If you look excited to spend time doing outdoor activities, your enthusiasm will rub off and make your kids more thrilled to be outside, too. Lead by example and bring out your inner child during playtime, encouraging kids with a sense of wonder and excitement. Point out everything as if it is the maiden time you have seen it, and don’t be afraid to add some extra pep to your voice as you lead outdoor activities.

• Plan Few Games That Promise Action and Adventure

You can even modify a simple playing area into a magical outdoor adventure. Take dress-up clothes outside for a small replica of a constructed house or even a palace made with the help of few household items like table, chairs and bedsheets to adorn the area. The more imaginative and diverse your activities would be, the more kids will want to get out and enjoy the sports.

You can also try few simple games like:

Making Chalk Roads: Using chalk and drawing shapes of various sizes and lines that are straight and curvy. Have the kids jump from shape to shape and walk on the lines without falling as this fun game helps them exercise motor skills.

Planning a Nature Scavenger Quest or a Nature Ninja for a Twist: You can play this game in your backyard or local park. Make a list of items with the help of words or even pictures. Give the kids a bag and accompany them as they search for items on the list. Use this time to help them discover new things.

Planting Seeds: This activity will help in inculcating the hobby of gardening in children. This activity can be done in a small community park or by using small cups or pots that are displayed in the balconies. Allow your kid to help you dig in the soil or fill pots, plant the seeds and water them. Teach them that if they will act patient, they will get to see their planted seeds finally nurturing into big shrubs and trees or even flowers sprouting during the spring season.

• Build Bonds & Companionships

Kids naturally inspire each other, and they will likely want to spend more time outdoors if they have friends of their age to enjoy with. While it may take a little extra effort to plan and supervise larger groups of kids, the joy and confidence children gain from exploring the world with other kids their age are worth developing.

• Teach Not With Your Words But With Your Actions

Practice the art of demonstration and not just discussion — Kids imbibe and emulate a lot about behavioral and outdoor skills just by observing you and following you in every action.

Just remember dear parents that kids aren’t going to switch easily with their outdoor playing habits in just one day or even one week, and that’s completely OK! Give them some time and patiently encourage them to adapt these outdoor playing habits even if they start small as they engage themselves and explore the outdoor spaces!!