• Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure & Privacy
  • Media Kit
  • Little Family Adventure Shop

Little Family Adventure

Active Family Travel and Lifestyle Blog

  • Get Outside
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Family
  • Go Green
  • Deals

November 19, 2016 By Nicky Leave a Comment

4 Benefits of Active Play for Children

Little Family Adventure sometimes receives compensation and/or hosted travel and sample products related to blog posts. This story may contain affiliate links.

4 Benefits of Active Play for the Outdoor Family

Here at Little Family Adventure, we strongly advocate for families to be active together. Whether in your own backyard, around town, or traveling, we encourage families, just like you, to get out and have fun together. We are partnering with The Genius of Play to bring you 4 benefits of active play for the outdoor family.

4 Benefits of Active Play for the Outdoor Family

We all know that it’s important to get outside and reverse the effects of Nature Deficit Disorder. But it is more than just fun and games when we opt outside. Children develop important skills when they play outside. As parents, we need to encourage them to play and make active outdoor play part of their daily routine.

Outdoor Active Play is FUN

When children play in a natural outdoor environment, their imagination can run wild. There is no limit to the worlds they can create and play in. They can be an explorer, a super hero, a scientist, an alien, etc. This creative license forces children to come up with new ideas and solutions when playing outdoors. They have fun making it up as they go along.

4 Benefits of Active Play for the Outdoor Family

Active Outdoor Play Supports Active Learning

“Mommy, Why is the Sky Blue? Why is the frog slimy?” When children play outside, they ask questions about what they see. They want to know why things are a certain way or why they aren’t. Asking 1,001 questions may be bothersome to some adults, but it fosters a love for learning and new opportunities in children. Through play, children learn what things are, how they work, why they work the way they do, and somethings when they don’t.

As a homeschooler, we often went outside for science and art class. The kids could see, touch, smell, and sometimes taste the world around them. Learning was an immersive experience allowing them to really dive into the topic. It’s an education that no book can give.

4 Benefits of Active Play for the Outdoor Family

More Active Outdoor Time = Better School Performance

Active outdoor time makes learning possible. When a child plays outside, they are often jumping, running, climbing, walking, moving. That exercise increases blood flow and brain function.

Studies have found that children who spend more time in outdoor environments show greater capacity to focus their attention and higher academic performance. (Shaw, 2005).

My youngest is an active boy! He’s also a tactile learning meaning he learns best when he can touch something and figure out how it works. I know from personal experience that the more active he is outdoors, the better he can focus in the classroom.

Turner Falls. Oklahoma - Get Back to Nature and have fun with the family at Turner Falls, Oklahoma - 5 Tips for Camping at Turner Falls, Oklahoma & having a GREAT time outdoors

Active Outdoor Play Promotes Healthy Living

Active outdoor play promotes healthy habits that last a lifetime. When children play outdoors, then tend to be more active. They are developing gross motor skills, strengthening their heart, improving lung function, and reducing the chance for obesity. The more they play, the more likely they are to continue to be active through adolescence and adulthood.

Regularly active children benefit from being outdoors. They reduce stress, improve their cardiovascular health, and often make better healthy choices all around. It doesn’t matter where children get outdoors to play. It could be in their backyard, a park, forest, or a lake. The more they get outdoors, the more they benefit. As a family, you can get out together and share in those benefits and improve your overall health.

Learn more about the benefits of play and get a few ideas at TheGeniusofPlay.org.

Resources:  Shaw, D. G. (2005). Brain Fitness for learning. New Teacher Advocate, 13(2), 6-7.

Filed Under: Living Green

blank

About Nicky

Nicky Omohundro is a travel and active family lifestyle blogger and social media influencer based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She shares stories, destinations, and ideas on food, family, health, and outdoor recreation to help families find their own adventures. Her spirit animal is a caffeinated squirrel fueled by coffee, real food, and the desire to seek new adventures.

« Home Chef’s Meal Kits Let You Make Take-Out At Home
Yurt Camping 101 – What We Learned at Kayak Point »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Find What You’re Looking For Here

Welcome to Little Family Adventure

blank Hi, I'm Nicky. I'm an active mom of 3 who wants to help you have "No Child Left Inside." We're getting outdoors and traveling as a family to bring you new ideas, destinations, and activities. Let me help inspire you to find your own adventure at home, outdoors, and around the world.

Follow Our Adventures

coffee table with cups and text overlap
HOT DEALS OF THE WEEK  (Updated Every Thursday)

POPULAR NOW…

Kringla shaped cookies in a tin
Norwegian Kringla Cookies

susage gumbo with rice in a bowl
Easy Instant Pot Gumbo

Queso Dip with tortilla chips
Torchy’s Taco Copycat Queso Recipe

German Beer Cheddar Fondue - Pull out your fondue set and skip the fancy restaurant. Take this easy fondue recipe and whip up some ooey gooey goodness that everyone will love. What is better than a night with cheese and Craft beer?
Beer Cheese Fondue

skewers cooking on campfire grate
Camping Food on a Stick Recipes (Skewers)

Memberships

Family Travel Association member badge   The Family Backpack Trusted Blogger BadgeSATW_logo

The FTC has set regulations on disclosing when bloggers advertise or recommend products. Find this information outlined in my disclosure policy

blank

Copyright © 2021 · Little Family Adventure - Divine theme by Restored 316 & Designed by That Pretty Face

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok