Children do not play outside enough and it’s likely to be
having some serious effects on our children’s development. Studies suggest that
children spend just a small portion of the time outside that their parents and
grandparents did, meaning they’re not having the same opportunities to develop
vital life skills. This is not to say that indoor play is bad, just that there
needs to be an appropriate balance, and currently, this does not seem to be the
case for most children.
For more information check out: https://www.childinthecity.org/2018/01/15/children-spend-half-the-time-playing-outside-in-comparison-to-their-parents/?gdpr=accept
As teachers, what should we do about it?
- Let children play outside. Encourage our
students to play in the outdoors and develop their love for it during school
time. Once they have developed their love for the world around them, they are
more likely to spend time in it outside of school.
- Take the curriculum outside. Not only will this
give children time in the outdoors that they may not otherwise get, allowing
them to develop vital skills, it will also help to foster a love for the
outdoors. Along with this, there is lots of evidence highlighting the many
advantages of outdoor learning for children’s development. Check out our
resources for loads of ideas on taking the curriculum outdoors.
- Talk to the parents. It’s important parents
understand the benefits of giving children time to play and explore in the
outdoors both in and out of school as well as the negatives that an absence of
this time can have. Giving them ideas and suggestions about what they can do
with their children along with what an appropriate balance of inside and
outside time could look like in the home.
With all the attractions that modern technology brings it’s
becoming an increasing challenging task for both teachers and parents to get
our children playing outside. However, by simply giving them time to explore,
play, and take risks in the outside, children are likely to develop a lifelong
love and appreciation for the world around them.
Children do not play outside enough and it’s likely to be having some serious effects on our children’s development. Studies suggest that children spend just a small portion of the time outside that their parents and grandparents did, meaning they’re not having the same opportunities to develop vital life skills. This is not to say that indoor play is bad, just that there needs to be an appropriate balance, and currently, this does not seem to be the case for most children.
For more information check out: https://www.childinthecity.org/2018/01/15/children-spend-half-the-time-playing-outside-in-comparison-to-their-parents/?gdpr=accept
As teachers, what should we do about it?
With all the attractions that modern technology brings it’s becoming an increasing challenging task for both teachers and parents to get our children playing outside. However, by simply giving them time to explore, play, and take risks in the outside, children are likely to develop a lifelong love and appreciation for the world around them.
Adam