The benefits of playing outside

The Easter holidays are upon us and the weather is, for now, absolute gorgeous! This is the perfect time to put the computer games away and enjoy some quality time playing outside. There’s plenty of good reasons to do so, some of them might even surprise you!

It's good for your health
Children need regular exercise and running, climbing, swinging and jumping all help build muscle and strengthen bones, and also helps with cardiovascular development too! NHS guidelines suggest children under five should exercise for at least three hours every day, and from ages five to 18, for at least an hour a day.

When playing on the swings, for instance, children use all their muscles to hold on, to balance, they co-ordinate their bodies to propel their movements back and forth. They also gain an increased sense of spatial awareness as they develop their strength and core.

Get in touch with the great outdoors
Outside, children can make direct contact with the natural world. They can see different plans and animals up close for themselves, and can ask questions about how things work, making learning about the weather or why the grass is green, for instance, more engaging as it is brought to life. They also begin to understand and respect nature and to see the interaction between animals, plants and humans.

Develop skills
Going to the park or the local playground encourages children to interact with other children, encouraging them to develop their social and behavioural skills. They may have to negotiate with other children to decide who gets to go on the swing next, or to find a companion for the see-saw.

A natural source of vitamin D
Vitamin D is important for developing healthy bones and preventing diabetes and heart disease later in life. Vitamin D is gained through sunlight but recent studies have suggested that up to 50% of people worldwide are deficient in vitamin D, and yet sensible sun exposure for just five to ten minutes, two to three times a week is all you need.

It's fun!
When playing outside children feel unrestricted; they don't have to worry about dirtying the house, breaking something, or making a mess. They are also able to run as fast as they like!

So, as long as the good weather lasts, be sure to spend some time playing outside with your children this Easter holiday!