In today’s digital age, children are spending more time than ever on screens and tablets, and less time exploring the outdoors and engaging with nature. However, early childhood research shows that spending time outside actually benefits children’s physical and mental development significantly! Here are a few key benefits of nurturing a healthy outdoor play schedule:
Emphasizes Physical Activity
Engaging in outdoor activities like sports, running, jumping, or climbing instills a healthy relationship with exercise early in life. Children not only are able to release their energy in healthy and productive ways, but also learn to take joy in moving their bodies and developing their gross motor skills. Encouraging outdoor play with your children at a young age empowers them to continue these healthy physical habits throughout their childhood and the rest of their lives!
Boosts Creativity
While the physical benefits of outdoor play may seem self-explanatory, there’s also significant evidence that outdoor play activates children’s creativity and innovation. Playing outside introduces children to different sensory experiences like new sounds, sights, and textures that allow them to develop more robust imaginations as they navigate these stimuli. These experiences then help to cultivate more creative play such as imaginary world building or crafting with natural materials.
Socialization Skills
Playgrounds and parks are a great way to engage in outdoor play with your child while also fostering their socialization skills. While interacting with other children in these environments, little ones develop key social skills like sharing, teamwork, friendship-building, and problem-solving. Navigating socialization freely outdoors can help teach your child crucial skills in independence and decision-making that can directly benefit their ability to interact with others!
As the weather steadily becomes warmer, now’s the perfect time to encourage children to engage in outdoor play as much as possible to best cultivate their physical, mental, and social wellbeing! Choosing a childcare center like Heaven’s Elect that incorporates outdoor play into children’s daily routines can be a key way to make the outdoors not only a regular part of your child’s day, but also a much-anticipated component of their schedule that gives them something to look forward to daily.
Heaven’s Elect Christian Learning Center is a Non-denominational Christian childcare center fully licensed by the state of Michigan. Our Midland childcare center has been serving the community since 2000. Please contact us at heavenselect.com.
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