In the last few years, the rise of digital has made many kids completely abandon the outdoors. Most parents often complain of their children spending all day cooped up with iPads or cell phones. This does not only lead to health complications but also has many other disadvantages.
The outdoors are a great way to improve the learning and development in kids and young adults. Apart from helping them in terms of health, spending time outdoors also improves mental and cognitive behavior.
In this article, we are going to look at five outdoor activities, which parents should encourage their kids to take up. However, before we come down to the list, let us first look at some of the advantages of outdoor activities.
What are the major benefits of children spending time outdoors?
According to data, for every five minutes of time spent on outdoor activities, kids in America spend six hours in front of a screen. While this number might appear to be normal for some, it is alarming to health experts and counselors.
This is why almost all health and medical practitioners agree that spending time outdoors is far better than spending time in front of a computer or a tablet or a phone screen. The internet is not a very safe place for children to be spending a lot of time.
Playing outside helps in improving physical and immunity development. It also allows kids to develop behavior patterns for teamwork, coordination and partnerships. All these are vital elements, which have a positive impact later on.
Scientists also state that playing or engaging in outdoor activities leads to happier children. Apart from contributing to their mental health, it also helps boost immune systems in kids.
5 Outdoor Activities which leads to Better Health and Wellness in Kids: The List
- Swimming-
If there is one activity all experts agree on to promote better health in kids, it is swimming. Swimming helps in exercising all aspects of a kids’ body. It also helps in picking up an important life skill, which is essential, to say the least.
The best kids swimming lessons can not only benefit children in terms of physical exercise but also involve a lot of fun in the process. If you are looking to enrol your kids in a swimming academy, you should only work with the best institutions.
- Cycling-
In addition to swimming, cycling with a full suspension mountain bike is a great activity, which helps in overall physical development. Again, like swimming, it is also a life skill, which everyone should know. Swimming helps in exercising all aspects of our body.
It also helps in improving digestion, tiring out the body in a healthy fashion and is a great lifestyle exercise. Encouraging your kids to take up cycling will help them in many ways in the future.
- Hiking-
Hiking, mountain climbing, or going on trails is something, which can be made into a fun family activity. Hiking is a great cardio exercise, which helps in improving muscle mass. It also leads to the development of bone density and arouses a love for the forests and the woods.
If you want to make hiking fun, you can also integrate maps and go on several mystery trails. Enabling kids on how to learn maps and following through with finding trails can be your weekend activity, which you do with your kids.
- Yoga and Meditation-
Many of us reach Yoga and meditation very late in life. However, if you make your kids take up or enjoy meditation, it will help them deal with many of their life’s problems when they are adults.
Yoga and meditation teach patience, improves thinking, stretches important parts of our body and has a positive effect on our internal organs. They will never suffer from depression or anxiety if they are doing yoga or meditation for many years.
- Rowing-
If you want your child to take up rowing, you need to first teach him or her swimming. Rowing is slowly emerging as a favorite outdoor activity for many kids in America. It helps in improving the muscles and bones in the chest and shoulder region.
If you know about how important it is to build your
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