Click Here To Take A Virtual Tour
Home
Blog
FAQs
Schedule your personal tour: 386-734-3005
St. Barnabas Episcopal School
  • Academics
    • K4 and Kindergarten
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
  • Admissions
  • Who We Are
    • Faculty and Staff
  • Campus Life
  • Support Our School
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • FAQs

Categories

All
Campus Tour
Charter School
DeLand
Elementary
Kindergarten
Middle School
Parenting
Preschool
Private Education
Private School
Summer Fun
Volusia County
VPK

Archives

February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014

Why Your Kids Should Go Play Outside This Summer

7/6/2017

 
Why Your Kids Should Go Play Outside This Summer
Summer is the perfect opportunity for your children to get some extra outdoor time. With more freedom during the daylight hours and more flexibility with bedtime, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be outdoors.
Here are some of the best reasons why your kids should go outside and play;

Becoming One With Nature
Kids are spending less and less time outside, partly due to the increase in technology use. While there’s nothing wrong with computers or video games, it’s important for your kids to learn balance. There are so many benefits to being out in nature aside from fresh air and exercise.

The colors of nature are shown to reduce tension and ease anxiety, and interacting with living things can teach responsibility (if you mistreat a living thing it will die). Engaging with nature is the perfect opportunity for your kids to learn about plants and animals. Kids love nonfiction books about nature, so investing in some reference books that will help them identify insects, plants, and animals can help encourage them to get outside. They’ll love learning random facts about God’s creatures and it’s fun for them to try and identify the things that they see.

Learn Cooperative Skills
Outdoor play tends to be much less structured than indoor play. This provides opportunities for creative exploration and problem solving. When kids play outdoors, they’re much more likely to make up games and build things themselves. This sort of play requires them to work cooperatively with others and build skills such as turn taking, independence, and self-advocacy. This sort of play also helps build responsibility as they are more independent when they’re outdoors by themselves or with less parental supervision than might otherwise occur when they’re inside.

How You Can Help Your Child Make The Most Of It
Some parents are uncomfortable allowing their children to play outside. Fears of bugs, germs, predators, or their child hurting themselves can dissuade parents from allowing their kids to play outside. However, no matter how hard you try you cannot protect your child from everything.

Being outside can actually help improve your child’s immune system. They can wear bug spray and sunscreen. You can teach them how to stay safe. By being over protective you can actually hinder your child’s development and shield them from valuable experiences. Let them run around, get dirty, enjoy the sunshine and the rain. Give them freedom. Playing outside won’t be any fun if they aren’t allowed to run, dig, climb, and just be kids. Invite their friends over to play for a whole day (short play dates aren’t really long enough for them to engage). Take a day trip to the beach. Go outside yourself. Play flashlight tag as a family after the sun goes down. There are so many opportunities for your child to grow as an individual and to grow as a family.

At St. Barnabas Episcopal School we recognize the value of time spent outdoors. This is why we have always implemented daily outdoor recess time, as well as regular field trips that often involve outdoor time. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a tour.
Visit our campus, meet our teachers, experience our culture.
Schedule a tour
Schedule your personal tour:
​386-734-3005
322 West Michigan Avenue
DeLand, FL 32720
Picture
Get parenting tips delivered to your inbox:
Subscribe
© St. Barnabas Episcopal School  | Privacy Policy |  Website Design by New York Ave.