We parents keep on complaining that now-a-days kids don’t play outdoors. We also say that kids like to be stuck to the gadgets like phones, tablets and television all the time! Really? Not really. It’s totally up to us as parents on how we make the outdoor play engaging. Believe me kids are still the same kids how we used to be in our childhood. They love to play, jump, run around, and be close to the nature. Kids are bubbling with energy and we have to channelize this energy towards outdoor play.
Outdoor play offers multiple benefits to kids like –
- Honing motor skills of toddlers and pre-schoolers. When kids jump and run freely, they are actually utilizing and polishing their physical skills. Hand-eye co-ordination, better focus are some areas that can be improved with outdoor play.
- We should not ignore the risk of obesity and related diseases in the childhood. Outdoor play ensures kids burn calories and stay fit.
- It promotes bonding with siblings, friends and parents. Kids learn many new aspects of friendship and other relationships when they play outdoors.
When you are outdoors with your kids, you can utilize this time more fruitfully and can teach some maths concepts or science related facts in an interesting manner. Outdoor play can indeed contribute to learning. Have a look at this interesting article to learn the 1-2-3s of Outdoor activities – http://bit.ly/2agv6jV
As parents, my hubby and I try to ensure that kids get enough amount of outdoor play time. Be it playground or parks, or quick outings nearby, there are many outdoor options available even in this digital era.
1. Send kids to the neighbourhood Playground everyday
In Singapore, there is no dearth of playgrounds. Every nook and corner has well-equipped playgrounds for kids. Swings, Slides, Free play area is available at these playgrounds. Generally, on weekdays, kids are busy in school and enrichment classes. But we ensure that they go down and play in the playground at least for an hour or so. They run, jump, slide, swing and bond with their friends. It is their little world and it is so beautiful!
It is amazing to see their sweaty, dusty but happy faces when they come back from the playground.
2. Take them to Night Walks
This is my favourite activity. Sometimes, after dinner, we just take them downstairs for a stroll. We discover new interesting things every now and then even if it is the same neighbourhood! We see snails, we get wowed by cats and we appreciate colors and fragrance of flowers. Sometimes, we collect dry leaves to make some art out of it and sometimes we just talk about school, friends and any sweet nothings!
Such walks ensure that they do physical activity and at the same time we can share our thoughts with kids and vice-versa.
3. Plan short getaways whenever time permits
We all need to break away from routine. Just like adults, kids also need to see new places and gain new experiences. Every time travelling long distance might not be possible. Thankfully, Singapore has a wide array of destinations around it.
So yes, we take our kids to nearby islands, amusement parks and highlands whenever there are long weekends or school holidays. They get to see new culture, eat new food and gather awesome memories. We choose only those destinations where kids have loads of activities to do example swimming, snorkeling, enjoying rides and so on.
4. Visit Parks, Reservoirs, Beaches and other natural habitat
Weekend is a good time to venture out and visit parks and beaches. Singapore has lots of beautiful parks, reservoirs and beaches. In fact, there are farms too! We take the kids to all these places one at a time on weekends. Seriously, they don’t even remember the electronic gadgets at all during these outings.
In parks, they get to see trees, fruits and flowers while beaches give them sand play options and playing with waves. Farms and other natural habitat offer them to observe insects, small creatures and get to know the cycle of nature.
All these trips are mentally simulating and physically strenuous for kids and us. Lessons that we learn during these activities are simply priceless!
5. Visit museums, indoor playgrounds and other Singapore attractions –
When the weather is not good or when kids are a bit under the weather, we don’t want too much physical exhaustion for them. We still want them to experience outdoors in more controlled way. Visiting museums, indoor playgrounds and other attractions in Singapore can be a great option at such times.
Museums offer so much to see and learn. Kids learn about history and rich heritage that we have and their respect for the country increases even more. On the other hand, Indoor Playgrounds give them an opportunity to play, role-play and enjoy in an indoor environment.
One imaginative way to motivate kids to explore the world outside their bedroom windows is with geocaching—the modern-day equivalent of an international treasure hunt.
Too right too right! I think we parents often suffer from inertia when we think about the heat and humidity, but we do have to make the effort to ensure everyone in the family gets plenty outdoor time!
It’s true! It’s really up to us parents to expose our children more to the fun and exciting outdoors than have them stay indoors and be stuck with gadgets to entertain them. I’m looking for ways to enjoy the outdoors with Laurent so this is a timely post for me!
Outdoor play is amazing and nothing can beat it actually. Good way to have healthy environment.
We love outdoors, esp to the beach to cycle and blade?
In these days where TV programmes, Internet and mobile phones are so pervasive, it is even more crucial for us to bring kids outdoor 🙂
cheers ,Andy
(SengkangBabies.com)
Great ideas you’ve shared. I believe in the most basic, old school ones. Parks are always great even for grown ups.
one more option, it should be pokemongo!
totally agree. most of the time it’s the parents that made the kids not able to enjoy outdoor. exp, if parents used to passing tabs/phones to their kids to watch cartoon just to shut their mouth from crying, or parents would always say it’s too dangerous to play outside nowadays.
I have no problem getting the kids to venture outdoor. In fact, they ask to go out every day, I can’t keep up!
I agree with you that it’s very important to get kids to be outdoors more often and not just stay at home. This will improve their socializing skills as well as communication skills!
I agree that parents should foster the habit of enjoying outdoor and creative activities
Sometimes, parents have all the reason to take good care of their children. But playing outdoor, for some, is a bog no-no, but they don’t know the feelings of the children. This post is some kind of awareness to parents that doesn’t approve outdoor’s playing for their kids.
yup, i will encourage parents to take kids outside and experience the world. although i’m not yet a parent but as an individual myself i have learnt a lot by spending time outside.
It’s important to let the kids play outdoors! They develop a lot of skills by plying outside, aside from being physically active, of course! I love the tips that you have here. Parents should take note of them.
This is definitely one of the most important things when it comes to kids especially now! WIsh we had better parks here in the Philippines. :O
Yep.. kids nowadays really should spend more time outdoors instead of being cooped up indoors or on electronic devices. Great share 🙂
Yes. Gadgets have really gained control of our kids. They even want to bring their gadgets when we go out! It is really a challenge if there are no activities or safe playgrounds in your neighborhood, like you have.
Your children do expose a lot to outdoor activities which are such a good thing. I must learn from you too. Time from work has taken up much of my energy. So seldom bring my kids to outdoor.
Having kids play outdoor really helps them socially. It also makes them improve on their immune system as they get expose to the environment outdoors.
Need to share this with my friend, her kids tend to stay indoor too much >.<
it’s true it’s all up to us parents to get them more outdoorsy, i hardly stay home on weekends so I can get the kids out more
Rather then let the kids stay at home with the games or TV! I prefer that outdoor activities is much more fun and let them able to experience more stuff too!
Any opportunities available for kids to experience outdoor games/activities should be encouraged. I really do concur! It simply thus helps to regulate the body metabolism, burn unnecessary fats and increase fitness of these young kids. Remembering my childhood days where my folks often takes us out to the beach, recreation parks every fortnight are moments I cherish a lot.
Yes! I always agree kids should play outdoor than indoors. This is how we grow up. =)
great guide for newbie parents.. The child won’t be keep on staring their mobile device..should bring them to take part in outdoor activities.
i have a neighborhood playground, maybe i should make time to bring the kids there one of these days..
My mum’s idea of bringing the kids outside is to bring them to our little orchard and vegetable garden. Hehe
Great suggestions there. Play outdoors as much as possible before the haze hits us! And don’t let gadgets and devices rule our life!
Thanks for sharing this informative list. I will go for the nuber 1 and 4 for kids in as much as outdoor is concerned.
I always let my children play outdoor too. For them to explore more in their life instead of playing tablets at home all the times.
Great tips which I practise every once in a while… but it does get harder here in Malaysia as there are plenty of weirdos waiting to prey on kids.. so need adult supervision…
Yes I’m agree, other than letting them playing with 3C. Or else their posture, attitute going to be very bad.
Its good to make your children play outdoor sometimes provided under adult supervision. Remember those days my parent don’t even let us out to play. I end up become super introvert and afraid to mixed around. haihhhh! trying my best to overcome this fear!
Aww look at them. they’re so cute 😀 and the cat looks like just like mine
Its always nice to spend time with the kids outdoors 🙂 Good ways to encourage them to enjoy the fresh air
Your post are so good for parent’s who got no idea where to bring their kids. I always wanted to bring my son everywhere but you know grandparents are so traditional that they don’t allow kids to be out 🙁