Exclusive: 8 Benefits Of Outdoor Activities For Children’s Mental And Physical Health

Modernization has made the world its slave by affecting the individual’s lifestyle significantly. People are more engaged in their phones and television screens and observe a sedentary lifestyle. This makes the significance of outdoor play for children very crucial for their overall development. Aamish Dhingra, ICF- PCC certified Life Coach and Co-Founder of Cocoweave Coaching International, Delhi shares with Zee News Digital, his insight on what are the benefits of outdoor activities for children's health - both physical and mental.

Enhancement of fitness 

Outdoor play for children encompasses activities which include running, jumping, climbing, stretching etc. These movements aid in the improvement of the body’s cardiovascular health and building stronger muscles. For children, achieving physical fitness and flexibility is crucial to keep them active and healthy. This also plays a great role in dealing with childhood obesity, one of the significant global health concerns. 

Immunity booster 

One of the biggest advantages of outdoor play for children is that they get adequate vitamin D from sun exposure. This sunshine vitamin is quintessential for boosting the body’s immune defences and also assists in better absorption of calcium, thereby leading to stronger bones. Another great role of outdoor activities is exposing the kids to different microbes and building their immunity naturally. 

Quality sleep

When a child is engaged in outdoor play, his body’s circadian rhythm stays well regulated with the natural light exposure and this helps in maintaining a good sleep-wake cycle. Not only is this factor responsible for quality sleep, but another aspect is the physical exertion that corresponds with outdoor play. Hence, when kids get engaged in outdoor sports, they sleep better and maintain good health. 

Management of adequate weight

Since childhood obesity and the rising prevalence of fatty liver among children is quite a concern, outdoor play establishes a great foundation for a healthy child, maintaining their adequate weight. 

Alleviation of stress

One of the main stress busters is Mother Nature as it has the potential to not only calm you down but also make you get rid of diseases. It does so by reducing the levels of the stress hormone ‘cortisol’ in the body and by this way it helps in the management of stress and anxiety in children. 

Mood enhancement

When children engage in outdoor activities, it releases the feel-good neurotransmitters in the body called endorphins which are potent mood elevators. So outdoor play is crucial for children’s happiness and well-being. 

Raised attentiveness

Most children who remain engrossed in the television screens are prone to developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but outdoor activities have displayed a positive outcome in children by improving their focus and attention span. 

Confidence booster 

Kids' engagement in certain outdoor activities such as climbing a tree or playing hide and seek helps in a great way to develop their self-esteem and give a boost to their confidence. 

Conclusion 

For the children’s holistic development, outdoor activities play a key role and help in achieving physical, mental and emotional health. So as the caregivers of your children, assisting them in outdoor sports is the greatest gift you can offer