How To Get Your Kids To Play Outside

It is quite likely that you can look back on your childhood and find fond memories of those days when you played outside for hours, until your parents forced you to come inside. In the winter, you played in the snow; in the fall, you played in the leaves; and in the spring and summer, you played whatever games your imagination came up with! These times spent outdoors may have been shared with your siblings, or perhaps you shared them with other kids who lived in your neighborhood. And all the way until dark, you would play sports or play make believe with these siblings and friends.

Nowadays, however, it seems like the only time most kids go outside is when they are sent outside by the school for recess. And if they are not in school, they are usually either staring at a computer screen, or they are watching television and playing video games from the couch. Television, video games, and computers are fine, of course, but they should be used in moderation; after all, children who play outside are healthier, their minds are stronger, and they are less susceptible to childhood obesity. Here are a few things that you can try doing if your goal is to encourage your own children to start playing outside.

First of all, realize that children have a tendency to rebel when they are being told what to do; if you "force" your children to play outside, they are less likely to enjoy it. Your best bet, instead, is to allow your children to "discover" playing outside of their own accord. You can take huge strides toward accomplishing this by doing these two things: 1) Limit the amount of "media time" your children can have each day, and 2) Take some time to play outside with them!

Your children will begin to naturally gravitate toward the outdoors as their computer, television, and video game time is limited each day. And your children will be drawn out of the house - and will be started on playing outside - when you go out there and play with them.

Although some children will take to the outdoors naturally, automatically playing outside without any nudge from you, this is not always the case; not to worry - just follow these tips, and you will notice your children playing outside more and more.