Under The Sky

For most adults, being outside was an integral part of childhood. When I look back, most of my very best memories are of times spent outdoors; starting from when I was four years old and we moved from the city to the suburbs and my new backyard consisted of acres of woodland, right up until my early teens, when boy-chasing replaced bike-riding as a favorite pastime.

Though I’m not even 30, I often feel like a crotchety old lady when I lament the fact that “kids nowadays” just don’t get to experience the freedom, curiosity and exhilaration that come with getting outside on a daily basis. But it’s not simply nostalgia for the days of old that has us shaking our heads at our children’s indoor lifestyles. As it turns out, kids’ lack of connection with nature may actually have damaging effects on both their bodies and minds.

So why do kids need the outdoors? Some reasons are obvious: getting kids outside pulls them away from the TV, Xbox, computer and iPad, which typically occupy a huge chunk of a child’s waking hours. We’re all aware of the growing obesity among American youth, and of the fact that a sedentary lifestyle is a major contributor. But getting kids outside does more than just help counteract the ill effects of excess weight; it can build stronger bones, give them a daily dose of essential vitamin D, improve eyesight, improve attention span and lessen stress, depression and hyperactivity.

Children who spend time outdoors also grow up to be adults who respect Mother Nature. In fact, the National Wildlife Federation states that the most direct route to caring for the environment as an adult is participating in “wild nature activities” before the age of 11 (NWF). Want to  raise a future conservationist? Get your kid outside. At the very least, she’ll turn into a more environmentally-conscious adult, which will be far more important for this generation than any that has come before.

But maybe the most valuable reason for getting kids outside is the unparalleled opportunity for creative thought and play. Nature practically demands that a child use his imagination, and when he does he’ll discover a world with far more opportunities for fun than any toy store can offer. Even when silent, every part of nature is alive and it calls upon each of a child’s senses, creating an adventure his entire body can experience.

The bottom line is this: you can’t go wrong by taking your kids outside. You won’t have to ask yourself, ‘Is this toy developmentally appropriate?’ or ‘Is that show educational enough?’ The outside world is a natural teacher and your child will thrive under its tutelage.