In past decades, kids came home from school, changed into their street clothes, and immediately headed back outdoors to play with their friends. These days, you’re more likely to find children sitting on the couch watching TV or playing video games than kicking a ball around in the yard. This trend is troubling because outdoor play isn’t just beneficial for kids—it’s crucial for their healthy development.
Physical Health
The physical health benefits of outdoor play are undeniable. Running, jumping, throwing, and catching are all exercises that help kids improve their motor skills. Outdoor play builds strong bones and muscles, and it enables kids to get their daily requirements of vitamin D from the sun. Additionally, running around outdoors helps prevent obesity, which in turn reduces the risk of many chronic diseases later in life.
Socio-Emotional Health
Physical health isn’t the only measurement of well-being. Playing outdoors regularly supports healthy emotional and social development. Connecting to nature elevates the mood and encourages a positive mental attitude. As an added bonus, burning off all that energy outdoors translates to calmer, less fidgety kids indoors. Outdoor play also builds important social skills. Kids learn to play games as part of a team. They learn to share, take turns, and communicate with many different people.
Exploration and Independence
Young children love to explore. Whether they are following a frog hopping along the grass or blowing bubbles into the air, kids are naturally curious about the world around them. Outdoor play encourages kids to explore, which subsequently helps them develop greater independence and self-resiliency. Children also learn to trust in their abilities. When they go down a slide or climb a rock wall, they gain confidence about trying new things.
Encourage your kids to get outdoors more by installing a high-end residential playground in your yard. Castle-style and clubhouse-style play sets are available from Rainbow Play Systems in Fargo, ND. Call (701) 373-0111 to inquire about their swing sets, trampolines, and basketball hoops.
Rainbow Play Systems has chosen choice cedar for the same reasons homeowners choose them for their decks and siding. It ranks the highest in dimensional-stability among commercially harvested woods, which means it splits less, warps less, twists less, and shrink less. It also hold paint better, and are virtually free of sticky pitch pockets and resins. With notched big beam, dual bold constructions, commercial grade swing hangers, and heavy-duty canopies, Rainbow® Play Systems are design for years of quality play.
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