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Children Should Play Outdoors

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Submitted By mkulibarri
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Children Should Play Outdoors
A cardinal flies in and perches on a fence post. The little girl spots is and calls out “a bird!” She runs as fast as she can towards the bird, but the bird flies away. The little girl quickly turns her attention to an inchworm crawling up a picket. There are many reasons why parents should promote and support outdoor play for their children. Children benefit from being outdoors in many ways, such as environmental education, health benefits and self-confidence.
Children need to be outdoors to gain hands-on outdoor learning, or environmental education. There are many ways that children can obtain environmental education. Lessons can be taught outdoors. There are many science projects that can be done outdoors. Schools can have field trips to local, state and national parks.
Environmental education has become such an important topic that legislation is being passed to support it. In 1990, the U.S. Congress passed the National Environment Education Act, allowing the Environmental Protection Agency to create environmental education initiatives at the federal level. Author Cathryn Creno describes the passage of a “No Child Left Inside Act” which would mandate that schools and parks have a relationship to promote environmental education would provide school children with more outdoor exposure.
An important aspect of environmental education is sustainability. Parents and teachers can “Educate our children and our peers to create a society with a strong sense of stewardship and sustainability”, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Children should be taught to care for the environment and share responsibility for environmental quality. Nature’s future is in our children’s hands.
As parents, we should support school’s endeavors to promote environmental education. Parents can take their children to a park or nature center. Parents can plan activities to promote the environment and sustainability. Why not participate in Earth Day or plant a tree on Arbor Day? There is a Haida Indian saying: “We do not inherit this land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
In addition to promoting environmental education, being outdoors provides many health benefits. Children should always wear sunscreen when being outdoors. The sun is a great source of vitamin D. According to researchers in the MedPage Today article, “Overall health benefits from increased sun exposure may outweigh the risk of skin cancer.” Vitamin D protects against many types of cancers, as well as increasing mortality rates.
Another health benefit of being outdoors is that it can lower obesity rates. According to “Computers and Young Children: Social Benefit or Social Problem,” the authors explain that children who spend more time on computers than on outdoor activities have “substantially heavier body mass index.” A heavier BMI (Body Mass Index) in children can result in high blood pressure, increased LDL cholesterol levels, and increased insulin resistance. “Findings imply that BMI is a suitable tool for identifying children at risk of future adverse cardiovascular events,” according to Fiore in MedPage Today.
By participating in outdoor activities, children can reap many health benefits. Outdoor sports, such as team sports, bicycling, running and walking are great ways for children to stay in shape and be healthy. Parents should promote and participate in outdoor activities with their children.
Being outdoors promotes improved self-esteem and independence in children. The outdoors allows for children to distance themselves from a watchful eye. A child can play outside independently or with other children. A child can gain self-esteem in many ways, such as by climbing rocks, climbing a tree, or by running as fast as they can. The child will think to themselves “I did it!” and the next time they’re outdoors they’ll try it again and maybe even try something harder. According to Jason Stevenson’s article, “they are taught to hug a tree but not how to climb one.” Parents should encourage their children to be active – run, hop, skip, and jump, whatever excited the child and makes them feel confident. Outdoor activities “allow for both physical and social growth and promote increased self-confidence,” according to Stacy Tabb, eHow Contributor.
I can understand that there are many reasons why parents don’t really encourage outdoor play for their children. I’m a busy mom of a three year-old and I work full time and go to school half time. It’s hard to find the time to spend time outdoors with my daughter. There are times when she wants to play on the computer. Playing on the computer isn’t a bad thing; but I know she will also benefit from time filled with sunshine where she can run and play. One of her favorite things to do is collect bugs. She can’t collect bugs indoors!
In conclusion, there are many great reasons why parents should promote and encourage outdoor play for their children. Children benefit from being outdoors in many ways, such as environmental education, health benefits, and self-confidence. Who wouldn’t want these things for their child?

Attewell, Paul A., Belkis Suazo-Garcia, and Juan (Juan Jose) Battle. "Computers and Young Children: Social Benefit or Social Problem?" Social Forces 82.1 (2003): 277-96. Print.
Creno, Cathryn. "Educators Say Kids Need More Exposure to Outdoors." Azcentral.com Blogs. 12 Sept. 2011. Web. 27 Mar. 2012.
Fiore, Kristina. Heavy Children Become Teens with Heart Risks. Truth Is Scary. 11 Nov. 2010. Web. 18 Apr. 2012.
Stevenson, Jason. "Last Child on the Couch." Backpacker Aug. 2010. Print.
Tabb, Stacy. "Fun Outside Activities for Self-Esteem in Adolescent Boys." EHow. Demand Media, 30 Jan. 2011. Web. 19 Apr. 2012.
Teaching Stewardship and Sustainability." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 19 Apr. 2012.

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