Many parents, like myself, have fond memories of playing outside for hours until mom called us in for dinner. Memories of imaginative expeditions, bike rides, sword fights with branches, observing and catching bugs, finding unique rocks to add to our rock collection, collecting nuts and “helicopters”, raking and jumping in leaves and many more wonderful creative and outdoor active play. But today, children are less likely to share similar memories as childhood has moved indoors over the last two decades. It is not surprising then that children today have more tendencies towards being out of shape, tuned out and stressed out and lacking essential developmental and health connections to the natural world.

As parents, it is important that we encourage children to play and learn outside as we once did. The average American child spends six hours a day staring at some sort of electronic screen. Children may innately be interested in nature when very young, but maintaining that interest and developing an appreciation for nature that carries into adulthood and drives them to an Eco-friendly lifestyle is a responsibility and positive opportunity that more parents can learn to adopt. Playing and learning outside is an innate opportunity and expression for children to exercise their bodies and minds; and collectively, as families, nature engaging activities can provide the whole family with healthy and memory-making opportunities.

Children naturally are curious and the scientific exploration and potential for developing creativity outdoors is great and many teachers are discovering that attention spans and educational achievement has improved through more outdoor time and the incorporation of environmental education. Outdoor play increases not only their fitness levels by building healthy bodies and assisting in combating childhood obesity, but time outside also raises levels of Vitamin D which can help in protecting children from future bond problems, heart disease and diabetes. Exposure to natural settings provides reduction in stress levels, enhances social interactions, and offers children an alternative to a hurried lifestyle that can contribute to anxiety and depression. Exposure to environmental based education has assisted students’ performance on tests of their critical thinking skills and schools overall math, reading, writing and listening skills. These aspects alone should be incentive enough to drag the children away from the television, computer and video games!

The initiative of the No Child Left inside Act of 2011 require states to adopt KI-12 education “environmental literacy” plans and as parents and educators we can partner our efforts inside and outside of the classroom in order to increase their nature appreciation and involvement. In the past, tight budgets have lead to curtailed opportunities for environmental education, especially hands-on experimental education outdoors. Until more funding is in place, and as more initiatives are developing, families need to take more active approaches in encouraging children to spend time outside to play and learn.