Brain and body benefits from outdoor play | IIAHP Therapy Center
outdoor play

Brain and body benefits from outdoor play

The sun shines, the birds chirp, and your children are… Looking back at their screens? There are plenty of distractions pushing kids these days to live indoors. If you try to send them out to play, they might grumble, but don’t let the groans stop you from pushing those kids out of the door. Outdoor play has plenty of advantages and skill levels for children of all ages. 

Improve the learning ability and overall well-being of your child by outdoor play.

Summer is the perfect season for kids to play outdoors. While the weather is nice, encouraging your child to show self-efficiency through independent play, improve muscle tone and coordination, and use his or her creativity and imagination to create beautiful, make-believe worlds is a perfect opportunity.

Outdoor Brain Benefits

For the safe development of the brain, outdoor play is not only helpful, but also essential. Researchers say the frontal cortex is stimulated during playtime, which is responsible for controlling emotions and solving problems. Playing experience stimulates the brain to make the neurotransmitter connections vital to the development of a child. Working imaginatively and growing children go hand in hand.

Children solve complex social and emotional issues with little external assistance during independent play, with little structure or guidelines. The kids are the ones who need to make the critical decisions about what they think the rules and criteria should be for their games or events, which in effect strengthens the negotiation and social skills of children. Such skills are especially important for children with cognitive and developmental disorders as their brain need more training to cable such pathways in order to achieve successful social interactions.

Outdoor Body Benefits

outdoor play

Childhood obesity is a growing concern, so what better way to tackle this problem than enjoyable, safe outdoor play? Kids run, leap, climb, sit, and roll through the simple act of playing. It is a type of fun, informal exercise to exercise their bodies.

Outdoor play is particularly critical in core muscle growth, small motor skill enhancement, and increased coordination for children with special needs. Children need to avoid obstacles, have adequate space around other children, and use their power to throw, catch, manipulate objects or tackle a gym in the jungle. Some children with special needs are also deficient in vitamin D, so natural sunlight exposure can help boost the immune system of a child.

The next time you’re wondering why you’re continuing to fight with your kids over sunscreen, keep in mind these five key benefits.

  • Aids in physical condition
    Playing, jumping and climbing are some of the childhood’s most important activities. These exercises help children improve their muscles and motor skills. Encouraging outdoor play can also help prevent children from becoming obese and help them develop lifelong physical activity awareness.
  • Promotes healthy risk-taking
    While they play outside, kids can slip, bruise, and even break bones–and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Children need to practice staying healthy, overcoming physical barriers, and knowing their limits. There is no better place than in a safe outdoor environment to think about cause and effect. Jumping off a slide’s top could hurt her ankle today, but tomorrow she’ll know not to do it again.
  • Promotes imagination
    Much of the indoor activities kids do are relatively formal. Playing video games, watching movies and reading books don’t force children to stretch their muscles of development. By comparison, outdoor play appears to be more unstructured. A kid walking into the backyard, armed with a couple of balls and her imagination, has to use her imagination and creativity to create an event.
  • Helps with Sleep
    Consider about how well after a day of exertion you sleep. The same applies to your children. Kids who are sedentary during the day may not sleep as well as kids who are active during the day. Studies have also shown that children playing outside are less likely to wake up during the night, benefiting the rest of your entire family.
  • Provides exposure to the sun
    Too much exposure to the sun can be dangerous, but children need to spend some time out in the field. UVB rays activate vitamin D production, which is essential to the growth of the bone. Would you like to help these children grow big and strong? Have them every day for at least a little while in that warm sunshine.

Enrolling your child to IIAHP Achievement Center Program for the best result if your child is suffering from motor issue, Cerebral Palsy or ADHD. You can check our testimonial.

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