In today’s world of TVs, laptops, and other electronics, it
is all too easy to let our children sit in front of a screen during playtime.
After all, gadgets can be fun, interactive, and an easy way to pass time.
But even if the programs or apps your children love are
educational, they still rob your little ones of the benefits they could be
receiving from the great outdoors. Consider these eight important benefits of
playing outdoors to help your children grow:
1. Abundant Vitamin D
Exposure to sunlight while playing outdoors is one of the
easiest ways for your kids to get Vitamin D, a vitamin that is necessary for healthy
skin and bones, and helps fight off heart disease and even diabetes.
2. Lots of Other Kids
Having your children play outside with other kids will help
them develop key social skills that are important throughout life – something
they won’t get from sitting in front of a screen.
3. Skills with Sports
Competing on sports teams and playing with outdoor toys can improve
your children’s hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and even strength and
agility. And this summer, for a fun new outdoor toy that your kids will love, get
them the Backyard Slackline, a new item that represents one of the
biggest new outdoor crazes in the country!
4. Chill Out
Sitting in front of the TV and playing with video game
consoles can make your children cranky, irritable, and may even increase their
stress levels. Have your kids play outside is a great way for them to release
this stress and enjoy the wonders of being a child.
5. Concentrate Better
Most television programs and other forms of mass media are
designed to overload our senses, and never require us or our children to pay
attention for more than a few minutes at a time. Sending your children outside
with a few outdoor toys will make them regain this attention span and make
adventures all on their own.
6. Learn About Nature
From the behavior of small animals, to the different shapes
of clouds, there are so many things about the world that can only be learned by
spending time in the great outdoors. Have your children play outside this
summer to help them learn about the beautiful things that surround us all.
7. Stay Healthy
While exercise is important for people of all ages, it is
especially important for children; it helps them burn off extra energy, and keeps
them healthy as they develop. A good supply of outdoor toys will keep them fit
and active in your backyard this year.
8. Use the
Imagination
While apps and games provide children with a screen full of ready-made
entertainment, playing outdoors makes them create whole worlds inside their
head, using nothing but their imagination.
Let the Outdoor Fun
Begin
Each of these eight
benefits is a good reason to open the door and head outside with your kids this
year. So lace up your shoes, put on some sunscreen, and go have a blast in the
great outdoors!