OUTDOOR PLAY
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“Being outside is life changing. It alters our bodies, our brains, our mental health, and our very souls…all in the most beneficial ways! It is the easiest, cheapest, most accessible tool we have to help our children develop as fully and happily as possible.”
~Elise, 2022
Outdoor play offers the opportunity for all manner of experiences. Three, in particular, comprise very important elements of childhood education: the freedom to conquer physical challenges, learning one’s limits with risky play, and the obvious one, science and exploration and other types of learning. Some of these are entirely child-directed; you may guide others.
Widely accepted to be the seminal publication on the value of getting outside, LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS (pictured) by Richard Louv is a must-read for every parent who is serious about addressing nature deficit disorder in their children and changing their lifestyle for the better.
My family started the 1000 Hours Outside initiative in 2020. It’s intended as a way to match screen time with nature time…but it’s really changed our entire lifestyle for the better. Aspects of our life that might have seemed a bit extreme a few years ago feel very right now. Our kids play outside more and spend less time inside watching TV or on tablets/computers.
Isn’t this the best pic? I have no idea what they were looking at, but they were totally absorbed.
Talk about the value of child-led exploration…!
Visit the Research Page for more information about the benefits of outdoor play, as well as specific links to physical challenges, risky play and science/other education.