Rain or Shine Mamma

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

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Don’t lock up our kids – they need outside play now more than ever

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August 19, 2020 By Linda McGurk

As I was lazily browsing my Facebook feed last night, a heated thread about an elementary school in Indiana caught my attention. The school has opened again after closing because of Covid-19 last spring, but is subject to severe restrictions put forth by the state. As a consequence, the playground equipment has been shut down and the children now must take turns playing on the grass or the blacktop. That’s when they get outside at all. Most days they spend mere minutes in the schoolyard and sometimes there’s no outdoor recess at all. In fact, they even eat and have recess in their classrooms, some of which don’t even have windows. According to one mom, the students are only allowed to get out of their desks for bathroom breaks. Her own had reportedly left theirs four times that day, in total.

The sad thing is that they’re probably the lucky ones. As some countries are grappling with new corona outbreaks, many children and their parents are once again on lockdowns, essentially unable to leave their homes. This wicked virus may be killing the elderly, but the efforts to stop it are taking a heavy toll on our children as well. As they’re being isolated and kept inside, their mental health suffers.

According to a new study, a month-long lockdown can cause children aged 4-10 to become clingy, unhappy, anxious, restless and fidgety. Unsurprisingly, the symptoms typically become worse over time. What the long-term effects of lockdowns, school and playground closures and other severe measures will be we don’t know yet. Yes, children are resilient. But chances are they’ll be marked by this pandemic for a long time.

Kids still need to play outside, even during a pandemic. In fact, they need it now more than ever.

Want to combat a virus? Go outside!

There’s no doubt in my mind that state governments and school administrators everywhere are doing the best they can for the kids. Still, it’s disheartening to see that so many people in charge seem to miss a basic and well-known fact of infection control. Germs that cause disease spread much more easily inside four walls than out in the open air. Before the discovery of effective antibiotics, some schools even moved their classrooms outside to curb the spread of tuberculosis. It worked so well that by 1918, around 130 American cities operated open-air schools of some sort.

When kids are outside, they’re naturally physically distancing. There are also fewer surfaces for viruses and bacteria to cling to. The children are getting sun exposure (Vitamin D) and exercise, both of which are crucial to a strong immune system. Plus, nature works wonders on children’s mental health, as it’s known to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, and increase feelings of calm and happiness. Some of these effects are measurable after as little as 10 minutes outside. No wonder the Scottish government eyed its many outdoor nurseries when it eased out of lockdown and began planning for reopening daycares and schools. And in Sweden, where schools never closed, not even during the peak of the corona outbreak, the government recommendation has been clear from the get-go: “Physical activity outside is encouraged and reduces the risk of infection significantly.”

Taking away outdoor play isn’t the answer

With so much uncertainty and so many different approaches of combatting the virus across the world, parents are naturally getting frustrated. While nobody has a final answer on how to beat the novel corona virus, taking away children’s outdoor play and social interaction isn’t it. A review of as many as 47 scientific studies has found that children account for just a small fraction of Covid-19 cases, and:

  • are likely less contagious than adults
  • rarely cause outbreaks
  • typically aren’t the first in the family to be infected
  • mostly have contacts with peers and close family, rather than the elderly, who are at risk of severe disease
  • are unlikely to be the main drivers of the virus

Overall, the study concludes that letting kids go to preschool and school is unlikely to affect mortality rates in the elderly.

By all means, follow the mandates put in place by your local government. But also let your voice be heard if you don’t think that the restrictions are rational, based on science or conducive to your child’s health. In this time of crisis, our children need outdoor play more than ever.

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Related posts:

13 Benefits of Outside Play That Are Backed by Science. As it turns out, playing outdoors isn't just fun for kids, it's a boon to their health as well.13 Benefits of Outside Play That Are Backed by Science 5 Reasons to Let Your Kids Play Outside In (Almost) Any Weather. Outdoor play in rain, wind and snow can be a lot of fun for kids, so why stay inside because of some inclement weather? Don't hibernate in the fall and winter - find some fun outdoor activities to do with your kids instead!5 Reasons Why My Kids Play Outside In (Almost) Any Weather Outdoor Play Ideas and Tips for Rainy Days. Rain or Shine Mamma.Outdoor Play Ideas and Tips for Rainy Days Yes, kids CAN play outside when it’s cold!
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Filed Under: Featured, Inspiration, Parent with Nature 7 Comments

Comments

  1. Jessie says

    August 20, 2020 at 11:23 am

    We feel so fortunate that my daughters school worked all summer to get them back. They created an outdoor classroom in the garden where elementary (it’s a Montessori school) has class all day. They started last Wednesday and it has been working well. They will go inside for bathrooms or if it is raining but other than that school is outside. They have to still wear masks but they have been all following the rules. If only more schools would be able to do something like this or have the capacity to do this.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      September 12, 2020 at 3:32 am

      That’s wonderful! If anything good comes out of this pandemic, I hope it is that more schools will try outdoor learning.

      Reply
  2. Sara says

    September 4, 2020 at 9:51 am

    Thanks for sharing this. Thank you for sharing all the valuable links too. 🙂

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      September 12, 2020 at 3:29 am

      Sure thing!

      Reply
  3. Margaret says

    November 2, 2020 at 7:08 pm

    my son’s college set up tents to allow for classes outside…he plays baseball so thankfully has had lots of practice outside…

    Reply
  4. Carrie Elsden says

    January 2, 2021 at 2:10 pm

    Ironically, my daughter gets much more outdoors time during lockdowns than she gets while in her regular school routine. Lockdown has thus been great for her mental health, her independence, etc as a result.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      January 8, 2021 at 11:17 am

      As tragic as the pandemic is, I believe there’s a silver lining in that it’s forcing schools to keep kids outdoors more. One can only hope that some of these measures will remain in place after the crisis is over.

      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🙌🏻
_____________________________
#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.

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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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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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