Get Outside and Thrive! | Maximize Child’s Summer

The weather is warming up, and Summer is on it’s way! Most of us have sweet childhood memories of long Summer days spent riding bikes, running through the sprinklers, and rolling down grassy hills. So are you ready to hear something shocking?

Today, the average American child spends less time outside than prison inmates.

That’s insane! And yet when you look at how our kids’ lives are structured, is it really that surprising? Between being in the classroom for the majority of their day, to the amount of screen time our kids consume, is it really any wonder that our kids are cooped up?

We know there are a lot of factors when it comes to why our kids stay inside. Not everyone has access to safe outdoor areas, and when both parents work, it’s incredibly hard to make sure you’re prioritizing your kid’s outdoor time. But as the weather warms up and the days grow longer, now is the time to look for new ways to get outside and soak up all the benefits of outdoor play!

What’s so Important About Outside?

It turns out a lot. Playing outside from an early age not only has physical benefits but mental, social, and emotional ones as well. For instance, did you know that exposing your child to dirt actually builds their immune system? When kids play in dirt or mud, they’re exposed to germs in tiny doses that actually help make their immune systems stronger! We guess a little dirt really won’t hurt!

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We’ve collected a handful of other reasons why your kids should get up and get outside!

Make Big Moves

Indoor environments aren’t always the most conducive to the big play your kids want to do. Kids come into this world with a natural curiosity about their surroundings, which means they’re wired to explore, make messes, and get creative, which is much easier in an outdoor environment.

But not only that, kids need to move their bodies in order to develop in a healthy way. The average child needs at least one hour of movement per day to stay strong and healthy. So letting your kids explore and run free is one of the best ways to keep them healthy and growing!

Soak Up the Vitamin D

Did you know that Vitamin D isn’t actually a vitamin? It’s actually a hormone and one of the most important for your body! Not only is Vitamin D responsible for helping to absorb calcium and phosphate (nutrients that are vital to our bone health), but it also helps regulate our circadian rhythm (or sleep schedule), boosts digestion, and helps regulate our stress hormones so that we are more resilient to stress! That’s a lot of jobs for one vitamin!

The best way to get Vitamin D is through sun exposure. We need 30 minutes of sun exposure every day to maintain healthy levels of Vitamin D. Morning or afternoon light is the safest for bare skin and remember, if you are wearing sunscreen, you’ll need at least an hour. The darker your complexion, the more time you’ll need as well. And if it’s overcast where you are, you can still get your daily dose of Vitamin D! Make sure you’re outside for at least an hour on cloudy days.

Self Soothe

It’s no secret that the average American is chronically stressed, but did you know that today that habit of running off of stress begins as early as age 7? Yikes! Luckily spending time outside is one of the best ways to both manage and mitigate stress. In fact, a 10-minute walk outside is enough to jumpstart that stress relief!

When it comes to our kids, though, one of the best ways we can help them learn to handle and reduce their stress is by giving them the opportunity for unorganized play outside. That just means letting them lead, explore, and entertain themselves. Free play in the outdoors helps boost creativity and teaches your child how to deal with stress in a healthy way.

Unleashed Creativity

Speaking of creativity, a ton of research shows the link between outdoor play and creative development. When most of us hear the word “creativity,” we think of arts and crafts but don’t forget that creativity also includes problem-solving and risk evaluation. When we let our kids go outside and use their imagination, we’re fostering critical thinking skills.

Because while your child is building a fort out of twigs and branches or making delicacies out of mud, they’re stimulating the part of their brain that’s responsible for invention, innovation, and imagination. And whether your kid grows up to be a painter, a plumber, or a physicist, those early learned skills will serve them their whole life.

Brainpower

Some of the best research on child development and education comes out of the Nordic countries. In places like Finland, Denmark, and Sweden, children don’t start any formal education until the age of seven but instead spend their early education playing inside and out -no matter the weather! In fact, even in the deepest winter conditions, children in these schools spend at least an hour outside. Why? The research shows that children who spend more time playing (which is how children learn) and the more time they spend outside, the better their academic record in the future!

There are a lot of theories on why this is, from critical thinking skill development and learning to be more observant of their surroundings from an early age to the simple theory that movement and play are a way children release stress and, thus, are free to focus on academics, but regardless of the real reason, getting your kids outside could be the key to their academic success!

We hope this was informative and helpful! Summer is upon us, and there’s nothing more beautiful than the long Summer days of childhood. We can’t wait to hear all about the creative ways you and your family got out in nature this summer!