Children at Play: Keeping It Simple

Outdoor Play

Areas for walking and running are frequently accessible—and often free, as with local public gardens or municipal parks—and can promote health and fitness in your family. Fresh air is beneficial to the health of your child and the art of playing outdoors allows your child to explore her environment and interact with nature and other children, which all help in her development. Physical exercise will exhilarate your child and help in the manufacture of endorphins, the body's natural "feel good" or "happy" hormones.

Children who are encouraged to play outdoors as often as possible or participate in organized sports will also, in later life, regard exercise as normal—thus helping to prevent obesity, a prevalent condition in today's inactive society.

Outdoor activities that you and your child can do together include playing tag, kicking a soccer ball back and forth, running through the sprinkler, creating chalk drawings on the driveway, blowing bubbles, flying a kite, or just going for a walk around the neighborhood.

It is a commonly held belief that for children to have fun they must be bought every new toy that comes to the market—and this is simply not true! Wherever possible, children will make their own fun, given the right direction and encouragement. Help provide your child the tools she needs to find enjoyment in everyday things and take the time out of your busy day to play with her. She won't be a child forever!