Let's Play Outside
The weather is turning cooler and drawing us indoors, but now more than ever, we need to entice our children outdoors. Outdoor play is important during COVID-19:
It helps build immunity.
Exposure to sunlight builds vitamin D stores.
It is important for mental health.
It reduces the likelihood of transmission compared to indoor activity.
The real risk comes with keeping children indoors.
Outdoor play is fundamentally different than indoor play. Children are two times more active outdoors, they move in different ways outdoors and explore how their bodies move in space. They learn how to manage risk and develop resilience and self confidence as a result. Having access to nature promotes emotion regulation and environmental awareness. Children need outdoor play for their development, physical health and well-being.
Some parents are uncomfortable with outdoor play as they feel it increases risk. Keeping kids safe means letting them take some risk. The thrill of testing themselves and finding out what happens is a fundamental part of play. Children need to experience things for themselves. Outsideplay.ca is a website designed to help parents and caregivers of children 6 to 12 years to gain confidence and skills to support children’s outdoor play.
You can also provide a supportive outdoor play environment by giving children:
Time to play outdoors
Space – including loose parts such as natural materials, crates, boxes etc
Freedom- adult’s supportive attitudes
What can parents do differently to support their child’s outdoor play?
Stay calm and quiet. Let your child take the lead.
Allow children to take their time.
Ask yourself, “Is it really important to step in?”
Families can stay active outside this fall by enjoying some of our many city parks and natural areas.
You can participate in ParticpACTION’S the Great Big Move October 1 to 31 to win prizes. You will be moving virtually across Canada with family and friends by tracking your physical activities on the free ParticipACTION app in Google Play or the App store.
And don’t forget all of our awesome FREE outdoor playgroups! If you have never joined us in the park or in the forest, now’s the time. Find all of our upcoming playgroups here —> www.childreach.eventbrite.ca.
See you outside!
Written by: Joyce Williams, RECE, Parent Support Coach