Many parents spend hundreds of dollars on toys and activities for their kids. These things are great for keeping young minds and bodies active, but many of them are unnecessary. Of course children need structured play, but they also need “free” play and this is easy for them to do when the world’s largest playground is right outside your back door.
Let them play outside
Every toy, book and television show that comes out has been designed, and redesigned, several times over in order to make it educational and entertaining for children. I was just looking at my daughter’s three year old Elmo toy that is in practically brand new condition because it lost its wow factor long before she got any real play out of it. The great thing about nature is that, while being entertaining and stimulating to the imagination, it is also educational. Much more so than Tickle Me Elmo. Nature can teach kids the basics of science, economics, team work, and creativity.
How many reasons do you need?
- IT INCREASES BRAIN CELLS. There is a trend in the field of education called inquiry-based learning. Researchers have found that if students explore and experiment to figure out answers on their own, they’re going to learn better, and retain more information. It also helps them develop skills to be more able to learn things on their own later in life. What better environment to learn things than out in nature? There are lessons for kids of all ages to discover about the world around them.
- IT’S FUN. While it’s easy to forget, childhood isn’t just for learning about how to be an adult, it’s also about having fun. Nature gives kids a chance to use their imagination and be free to just be kids.
- IT’S INEXPENSIVE. Depending on where you live, exploring nature is usually pretty inexpensive, if not free. It may mean going out in your backyard, local park, or perhaps going to the local nature center or state park (which usually has low cost fees or memberships). Look at it this way, you don’t have to pay for expensive toys, jungle gyms, or memberships to expensive entertainment centers, but you still get the benefit of stimulating and educational. play.
- IT FOSTERS GREEN LIVING. Everyone these days is trying to be more green and environmentally conscious. What better way to help do your part than to get your children interested in their own planet than right now when they’re young and impressionable? What might be a fun time for them now, might be a future hobby, career or world saving invention.
While unstructured play outside is great for kids, you can also find a lot of places offering structured classes and learning sessions for kids that focus on the natural world. Check your local park, zoo, or museum. There’s a good chance they have classes you can sign up for, and since many of these places are not for profit, they’re usually affordable as well as informative.
Across the world, there are millions of dollars being spent to help promote sending your kids outside to learn from nature. That’s because spending time in the outside world is so important for developing minds. It can also be a great escape for you as well. Give it a try…
