Outside play is our favorite. My kids race out to the yard right after breakfast, before and after lunch, school and dinner. The fresh air, grass in between their toes, dirt on their hands and the many different kinds of weather beating down on them makes every day fun. Sure, they can get bored of our yard or playing on the same old swing set, but I send them out there anyway. There is always a new patch of dirt to dig, a patch of grass untouched or a new bug crawling around somewhere.
I remember growing up climbing trees and running around barefoot and riding my bike all up and down my street with friends. Playing and exploring is so fun. It's also so important.
I remember reading in college about the benefits of children and development and had bookmarked a few of my favorite passages:
"Unstructured outdoor play helps kids learn to take turns, share and develop other positive behavioral skills. They are more likely to be inventive, explore and learn about the world around them and use their own abilities."
Playing outside daily and shown the following benefits for children:
1. Build physically healthier children
2.Contribute to cognitive and social/emotional development.
3. Improve sensory skills.
4. Increase attention spans.
5. Grow in happiness and immunity.
How amazing is that? I have personally seen these benefits not only from my own childhood, but from my Social Work days and now with my own kids. I get teased from friends that if dirt is what keeps germs away, I'll always have the healthiest kids on the block.
I'm a big believer in taking time to be outdoors with my kids too. Usually I'll sit and watch them swing or jump on the tramp, or we'll hang out in the hammock together and giggle and we rock back and forth. Something we'll get blankets and snuggle on the tramp and look at the clouds, have water balloon fights or play in the leaves. Or I'll just let them be and observe from afar. But so many of my treasured memories are of my kids are outside. Whether I'm in the mix with them or not, we have created a joyful atmosphere of outdoor play and learning.
I also permit my kids to play in all types of weather. They will be allowed to learn, see, feel and experience for themselves how to dress and handle appropriately the weather outside. I will teach my kids all about dressing safely for different weather scenarios, (and demand it in the end) but if Waa thinks that in 40 degree weather he only needs boots but not a coat, by all means I will let him go outside and feel the biting cold on his skin and see how long he lasts. He will learn that he needs a coat. But he may also learn that when it's 70 degrees outside and raining, he needs a raincoat to play, but no shoes bc the water puddles feel warm on his feet. Being outside in all kinds of weather has allowed my kids to learn how to adapt their dress, their play and their choices. They see how the weather affects the things around them. They also are learning about clouds, temperature, plants, etc in the process.
And can we just talk about hide and seek outside? It's my favorite. Oh, and night glow sticks. I realize how blessed we are to have a yard, especially during this crazy time and I always thank the Lord for the refuge of the outdoors right at our finger tips. It may be the same old space every day, but it's ours and I'm grateful for all it's giving us and teaching us.
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