Rain or Shine Mamma

There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes

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5 Ways Free Outdoor Play Benefits Kids

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August 22, 2018 By Linda McGurk

Do you remember what your summer evenings were like as a child? If you were like me, they consisted of games of kick the can, cops and robbers, and of building fairy gardens next to the stream behind my house.

It’s a common misconception that children need rigorous schedules and structure in order to shape them into well-rounded adults. On the contrary, many studies have shown that unstructured playtime in the outdoors is beneficial to the mental and physical development in children. As adults, we can serve as supervisors to their safety but should empower our kids to discover the world around them without adhering to a schedule or plan.

Here are five ways free outdoor play benefits kids:

1.  Engage children in physical activity

With the amount of screen time kids are now exposed to, finding ways to getting them moving is more important than ever. Never in history have children been as sedentary as they are now. It is recommended that children get a minimum of 60 minutes of activity a day. Anyone who has spent time with an energetic young child can agree with the idea that the best way to wear out an overly energetic child is to let them run wild. Just like with adults, with more physical activity come better sleeping habits and a healthier appetite.

Five Ways Outdoor Play Benefits Kids. Rain or Shine Mamma.

2.  Inspire creativity

Whenever I used to tell my mother I was bored, she would tell me to go outside and use my imagination. Some children may be averse to being sent out into the outdoors without an agenda. However, given a little bit of time, they will almost always find a way to preoccupy themselves. Free play offers an opportunity for children to try out new situations that may have otherwise only existed in their own heads. With an endless amount of things to discover in the natural environment, there are so many opportunities to create magical worlds and scenarios. Free time to promote their sense of wonder can aid in fostering artistic and self-expression that is otherwise unavailable.

3.  Naturally teach limitations

As a child’s supervisor, you may find it hard to resist the urge to step in when you see a child taking physical risks during free play. As long as the child is not in extreme danger, try your best to allow them to explore their own limitations. Bruised legs and scraped elbows are battle scars of exploring the world around them. Luckily, they have an adult supervisor who knows first aid in case anything goes too far. Children will gradually learn their own limitations through a series of accidents and errors. As they learn their own limitations, they can recognize how to set boundaries and when to say no to situations they find uncomfortable. By allowing children to fall off a swing or slide, you are empowering them with a learning environment that will benefit them throughout the rest of their lives.

Five Ways Outdoor Play Benefits Kids. Rain or Shine Mamma.

4.  Let children experience a wide range of emotions in a safe environment

Learning alongside other children about their own physical and mental limitations can be a valuable social skill. There are many opportunities for frustration, anger, fear, and a variety of other emotions while trying new things and being subject to tests such as extreme temperatures and other unexpected weather events. The great outdoors offer a comfortable environment for children to work through challenging situations where they have to learn to reasonably navigate the feelings that come along with moments of discomfort.

5.  Teach collaboration and leadership

When left to develop their own social norms, there are children who immediately fall into leadership positions and others that tend to like to be helpers. They come to know what it is like to be part of a community and how they contribute to a group. If a child falls into a leading position, they gain the opportunity to know how to communicate with others and are given the chance to fail. As a helper, a child can learn how to contribute to help the group and also how to voice their opinion when they think that a project or idea is going the wrong direction. One of the great things about being a child is that they have a very small filter when it comes to communicating. Free play time offers space that is important in developing the filter that is needed in communication as they age.

W.M. ChandlerW.M. Chandler is a Colorado native and works best with her head in the clouds. She is an avid researcher and enjoys writing about unfamiliar subjects. She writes passionately about nature and the outdoors, human connections and relationships, nutrition and politics. Find her on Twitter: @wmchandler1212.

5 Ways Outdoor Play Benefits Kids. Research shows playing outside boosts children's physical and mental development. Find out how time in nature can help nurture your child. Rain or Shine Mamma

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Filed Under: Outdoor Play, Play in Nature 4 Comments

Comments

  1. Sharon says

    October 21, 2018 at 1:04 pm

    I was disappointed to see a photo of a child who has perfectly styled hair….perfect outfit without a sign that she has been playing outside….come on…look how clean her feet are!!! And lipstick!!!!! Give me a break….
    Something doesn’t add up here…

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      November 9, 2018 at 3:02 am

      I have to agree with you…That was a poor choice of photo for this article, but unfortunately stock photos of kids getting dirty outside are in short supply and sometimes I’m not able to take my own.

      Reply
  2. Mathew Wright says

    August 8, 2019 at 3:26 am

    Loved reading this. While a lot has been written about the benefits of outdoor play, really liked what you’ve mentioned about allowing kids to explore their limitations. Parents are way too concerned about injuries and end up being overprotective. Like you’ve written, these are battle scars!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      August 11, 2019 at 11:20 pm

      Yes, pushing boundaries are an important part of the learning process!

      Reply

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I’m not going to lie - there are times when my children’s dawdling drives me nuts. Like when they take 45 minutes to finish breakfast even though we’re running late . But I also envy their ability to be completely unhurried and present in the moment, and I realize that it’s a quality that I need to protect🐌As parents, we need to make space for our children to play, get bored, dawdle, wander, wonder, create, sleep in, be wild and free and watch the clouds go by. Let them be where they are and not push them to achieve arbitrary milestones or condition them to think that a packed calendar is the key to success and happiness.As always, Ginny of @1000hoursoutside is on point🙌🏻_____________________________#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #1000hoursoutside #quote ... See MoreSee Less
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Linda Åkeson McGurk
I’m not going to lie - there are times when my c I’m not going to lie - there are times when my children’s dawdling drives me nuts. Like when they take 45 minutes to finish breakfast even though we’re running late . But I also envy their ability to be completely unhurried and present in the moment, and I realize that it’s a quality that I need to protect🐌

As parents, we need to make space for our children to play, get bored, dawdle, wander, wonder, create, sleep in, be wild and free and watch the clouds go by. Let them be where they are and not push them to achieve arbitrary milestones or condition them to think that a packed calendar is the key to success and happiness.

As always, Ginny of @1000hoursoutside is on point🙌🏻
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #1000hoursoutside #quote
Did you know that camping for as little as two nig Did you know that camping for as little as two nights straight can help you reset your circadian rhythms and improve your sleep for several weeks afterwards? That's because the natural light helps the body regulate melatonin, a hormone that tells the body when it's time to get up and go, and when it's time to rest and recuperate🌗 

My melatonin levels weren't top of mind when @jeanetteosterman and I started our challenge to sleep outside at least once a month for a year. But I must say, I rarely sleep as soundly and feel as energetic as I do when I sleep under the skies.

Have you ever tried sleeping in a camping hammock? I bought my first one a few years ago and I ❤️ it!
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Raise your hand if you have a teen or tween and fe Raise your hand if you have a teen or tween and feel like you're constantly negotiating/fighting/fretting over your child's screen time👋🏼 

Well, you're not alone😰 

Since 2011, when mobile internet had its breakthrough, teens' and tweens' screen time has increased dramatically. At the same time, physical activity has decreased significantly. The WHO recommends that teenagers get at least one hour of physical activity every day, but in reality 85% of the girls and 78% of the boys globally don't meet the target.

Making outdoor activity a normal part of your daily routine can help  your tween or teen get the exercise and fresh air they need  and lay the foundation for lifelong healthy habits. I'm the first to admit that it isn't easy, but then again, nobody said parenting would be a cakewalk🤪

Hang in there and check out a few of the strategies that help me balance screen time with 'green time'. Do you have any tips to share?
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“I’m not thrilled about looking older. But wha “I’m not thrilled about looking older. But what unsettles me the most about the 40s is the implication that I’m now a grown-up myself.”
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Forty-four laps around the sun today and I still find that the passing of time is one of life’s greatest mysteries.
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This is exactly how I feel when I spend time in na This is exactly how I feel when I spend time in nature and why I find it so relaxing. When I’m outside with my kids I’m really present in the moment and there’s no place I’d rather be❤️ Hope you feel the same🌿

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They don’t always want to come hiking with me bu They don’t always want to come hiking with me but when they do, they want hot chocolate 100% of the time❤️😅

What’s your outdoor comfort food?
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I’ve always loved traveling and have been to my I’ve always loved traveling and have been to my fair share of exotic places, the farther the better🌎 Sometimes, I’d stay for a week, sometimes for months, or even a year. But in the past few years, my horizon has narrowed, and not only because of the pandemic. 

The effects of global climate change are real and it’s becoming harder and harder for me to justify flying for recreation. I’m not here to say that I’m swearing off flying altogether (we have a lot of family abroad that we can only get to by air) but I’m mostly trying to satisfy my craving for adventure at local destinations these days. And it’s been an eye opener🤩

There’s so much more to discover locally than I’d ever thought and going on these micro adventures makes me feel more rooted in my community and the history of this place. Hopefully, my girls will feel it too🌳

What are your thoughts on exploring more locally?
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When I became a parent, one of the first books I r When I became a parent, one of the first books I read was Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy and I felt like I’d finally found somebody who “got it.”🙌🏻 Somebody who stood up and said enough is enough with the helicopter parenting trend, questioned the need for baby knee pads and reminded everyone that it’s okay for kids to be bored, drink out of the garden hose, climb trees and play without intervention by adults who are trying to make the activity more “educational.” Somebody who understood that free play is learning. And for that, we thank her🙏🏻🙌🏻
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@lskenazy
A follower recently asked me when she could start A follower recently asked me when she could start hiking with her kids, to which I responded that I’ve always hiked with mine, ever since they were babies👶🏻 I kept going after they graduated from the carrier, but obviously “hiking” with a toddler is a lot different than hiking by yourself and I think it’s important to be prepared for and accepting of that, or nobody is going to have a good time.

If you’d like to know more about hiking with toddlers, I share some tips in this post: https://rainorshinemamma.com/hiking-with-toddlers/. 

What are your thoughts on hiking with little kids? Do you have any tips that you’d like to share?💡
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Yes, it looks cozy around the fire and it was🔥 Yes, it looks cozy around the fire and it was🔥 What the picture doesn’t show is us making a wrong turn and losing the trail, resulting in a 1.5-mile detour with heavy packs and sunset closing in on us before we finally reached our campsite🙈

One of the reasons why I love hiking and backpacking is that even though it’s about “living simply”, it also involves a great deal of problem-solving. I actually like it when things don’t go exactly according to plan, because you learn more that way. Not just practical things, like figuring out your location and getting on the right track, but also about yourself and your reaction to challenges🙌🏻

In this case, the wrong turn was just a minor misstep that we were able to correct by backtracking, but it was a good way to test our reasoning skills and resilience at a point when we were both starting to get a little tired.

This was our fourth time of sleeping outside at least once a month for a year, a challenge I jumped on thanks to my friend @jeanetteosterman. I’m not normally one to do challenges but this has been a fantastic way to push my boundaries and learn new skills. Who knows, maybe sleeping under the open skies once a month will become my new normal?😜🤩
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I think it’s safe to say that if more of us trie I think it’s safe to say that if more of us tried to see the world through a child’s eye, this Earth would be a much more loving and compassionate place❤️

Thanks @awilderchild for your amazing nature poetry🙏🏻
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