“Fresh air is as good for the mind as for the body.”-John Lubbock. One thing the outdoors can provide kids with is more space, to run around and play. Play can be used to help grow muscles and minds. Stepping outside means stepping into a world of dreams and magic. Imagination has an opportunity to grow when kids get a chance to be outside. Awareness for oneself is nurtured when one takes the time to explore the world outside ourselves. The outdoors is a doorway away from so many possibilities.
Exercise is important whether we are trying to stay in shape or lose weight. For kids, exercise is a great way to blow off some of that extra energy we adults so badly covet. It also helps with body awareness. “Body Awareness is important not only to build overall strength and core muscle but to realize where their body is in space (i.e. where their body is in relation to other objects)” (Greutman). Exercise doesn’t have to be push-ups or running sprints. Chasing around a soccer ball or playing tag with the neighbor kids, is a fun way to get some cardio in and teaches body awareness. Climbing trees teaches agility and works on upper body strength. Balancing on logs helps improve balance (Greutman).
According to research done by Angeles Nieto, there are 10 important reasons to grow one's imagination. Imagination can teach children to invent and create art (Nieto). A simple stick in the hands of a child can be a powerful wand, a pirate’s sword, or a mechanical arm to fight off robots. Mud is not only great for the skin but makes delicious pies. Turning rocks into castles for fairies or damns for dinosaurs to break through, is a fun way to create and play. Nature provides free toys to entertain them for hours. Turning leaves they find on the ground into works of art can be a memory you can cherish on your wall for years.
Building a bird feeder from recyclables is a great way to teach our children compassion. To help take care of others and those who can’t take care of themselves. Recycling materials are inexpensive ways that allow kids to get creative. Gardening teaches sustainability and boosts confidence; it also gives kids a chance to get dirty. Another site, Learning through Experience states that using all our senses helps us learn the material in a more concrete way. Hiking or taking a small walk and letting kids use their senses to explore the world is not only rewarding but attaches more meaning to the moment than just using one sense (Learning through Experience). This can be later applied to their studies and jobs.
With so many different activities to keep children occupied outside, exercises are furthest from a child’s mind. Nieto states that imagination can help grow empathy and confidence in helping kids reach their goals (Nieto). Encouraging kids to go outside and explore nature gives them the opportunity to expand their minds. Books by Morteza E. Sohi demonstrates some of the amazing art ones can make using leaves and other pieces of nature. Nature gives kids the opportunity to explore the outdoors and learn.
Greutman, Heather. Growing Hands on Kids. July 21, 2011. https://www.growinghandsonkids.com/10-body-awareness-activities-kids.html.
Learning through Experience. Feb 26,2018. http://learnthroughexperience.org/blog/power-of-context-learning-through-senses.
Nieto, Angeles. Angele’s Earth. 2018. https://www.angelesearth.com/art-techniques/why-imagination-is-needed-10-reasons-to-encourage/
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