Outdoor Play:Good for Body,Mind and Spirit

Remember playing outside until mom called you in for dinner?  Today’s kids probably won’t have these fond memories of outdoor play as we did.

In the last two decades, childhood has moved indoors. The average American boy or girl spends just four to seven minutes in unstructured outdoor play each day, and more than seven hours each day in front of an electronic screen.  This shifts inside profoundly impacts the wellness of our nation’s kids. Childhood obesity rates have more than doubled the last 20 years; the United States has become the largest consumer of ADD medications in the world; and pediatric prescriptions for antidepressants have risen precipitously.

Our kids are out of shape, tuned out and stressed out, because they’re missing something essential to their health and development: connection to the natural world. Here are some of the tremendous benefits that outdoor play offers to your children for their body,mind and spirit.

Body

•Outdoor play increases fitness levels and builds active, healthy bodies, an important strategy in helping the one in three American kids who are obese  get fit.

•Spending time outside raises levels of Vitamin D, helping protect children from future bone problems, heart disease, diabetes and other health issues. •Being out there improves distance vision and lowers the chance of nearsightedness.

Mind

•Exposure to natural settings may be widely effective in reducing ADD symptoms.10

•Schools with environmental education programs score higher on standardized tests in math, reading, and writing and listening.

•Exposure to environment-based education significantly increases student performance on tests of their critical thinking skills.

Spirit                                                                                                                                                

•Children’s stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces.

•Play protects children’s emotional development because loss of free time and a hurried lifestyle can contribute to anxiety and depression.

•Nature makes you nicer, enhancing social interactions, value for community and close relationships.

At HOMEFIELD we would love to help your  family create some of  life’s fondest memories providing you several options for boutdoor play.  Let HOMEFIELD show you how to make the most of  your outdoor living experience.  A well-appointed backyard is not only the favorite gathering spot, but also a place where friendships blossom and families bond.  With industry leading brands such as Rainbow Play Systems, Goalsetter Basketball Systems and Springfree Trampoline we certainly have The HOMEFIELD Advantage. Our dedication to quality and safety is unparalleled and our range of products and service is unrivaled. For those that appreciate the value of investing in the spirit of fun, there is no better choice than HOMEFIELD.  Come visit one of our two  HOMEFIELD showrooms at 1975 N IH 35 in New Braunfels TX or our Corpus Christi TX location at 1126 South Padre Island Drive and choose your summer fun!

 

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