5
HEALTH CORNER
Reasons Kids
Should Play
Outside More
Whether it’s dance lessons, computer projects,
art class or yoga, kids these days are busy
bees. And while such activities are enriching
and fun, experts say that many kids aren’t
spending enough time doing something much
simpler and every bit as important as structured
programming: playing outdoors.
As a parent, I worry about “stranger danger”
or whether my kids will be able to navigate
social issues on their own. Without spontaneity,
playtime has lost some of its fun.
Outdoor play is necessary for healthy child
development, according to The Genius of Play.
The initiative, whose mission is to raise awareness
about the importance of play and help parents
make play a critical part of raising their kids, is
sharing five benefits of unstructured outdoor
playtime:
• Physical Development: Research has shown
that physically active kids tend to be leaner and
healthier, while an inactive childhood can lead
to a sedentary (and likely unhealthy) lifestyle
in adulthood. Furthermore, physical play
builds gross and fine motor skills necessary
for success in school and beyond. Hanging
from the monkey bars, for instance, helps kids
develop the hand muscles needed to grip a
pencil.
80 SL-YOU | It’s All About Business
www.slyoumag.com | September-October 2019