Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Are Children Spending Enough Time Outdoors?
But it’s dirty out there, not to mention dangerous. The kids could be run over by a car or mauled by a dog or abducted. Besides, all they want to do is play on the iPad. It’s easier to rush the children in the door when they get home from school and sit them on the couch where they can passively stare at a computer screen under your watchful eye.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Children today spend an average of 4.5 hours a day being entertained by a screen. Whether it’s the TV, a computer or a mobile device, kids tend to prefer to unwind with a screen rather than spend time outdoors.
In the past few years, some organizations have joined forces to help counter this trend. One filmmaker in particular, David Bond, struck a chord with adults and children alike in his film Project Wild Thing. It documents his efforts to treat nature as a brand that requires marketing to attract attention.
Spending time outdoors makes children happier and healthier by building resilience, boosting well-being and making lifelong memories. Sure, kids enjoy what they watch on a screen, but it’s the adventures they have outside that will stick with them for a lifetime.
So how do you get your children to choose outdoor play over screen time? Spending just five more minutes outside can make a difference, says Bond. Try reading outside, building a fort in the yard, running through the sprinklers, going for a walk or camping. Or just send your kids outside and tell them not to come back for a while. When they realize all the fun and imaginative play that awaits them, they’ll soon come to love every minute they spend outside.
To learn more about the value of making sure your children spend enough time outdoors, please contact ListenLoveLearn.
Image via Shutterstock.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment