From the Screen to the Green: What Can Parents Do? Plan a play date outdoors with your kids

Outdoor play should be a balance of child-initiated activity that is guided by an adult.

What is good about going outside and playing with your children?

• Playing encourages bonding between family members
• It allows adults to instill important values in their children in a fun and relaxed setting
• It reconnects parents with their own childhood
• It improves their cognitive functioning because of the enriched experiences with natural resources
• It enhances a child’s resilience against stress and hard times
• It may even set a child on becoming a passionate defender of the environment when he or she becomes an adult!

Activities ideas for you and your kids…

Organize a scavenger hunt – Gather the entire family and some friends and divide up in teams. One person should make a list of items that the teams have to look for within a limited space and time. The team that has the most items from the list when the time ends wins! This game will help everyone work together towards a common purpose and will teach problem-solving skills to achieve success.

Hide-and-seek – This activity will help children with their social skills, as well as enhance their creativity for good hiding places. It is also very beneficial for their physical health, as they will be running around and sweating off all those toxins and calories!

Plant a garden – Show your children the wonders of natures by planting a small garden in your own home. Your children will learn about responsibility, as they will help these plants grow throughout the year!

Organize neighborhood Olympics – Get the entire neighborhood together to play in Olympic Games that both parents and children will enjoy. For ideas on how to organize this, visit http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=1404.

A crafts project in the back yard – You don’t need to get your car keys to do a fun activity outside. Go to your backyard and do some fun arts and crafts projects that will spark interest and creativity amongst your children. For some ideas, visit http://www.crayola.com/parents/.

Volunteer as a family at a local organization – Many organizations let you volunteer as a family. Find one near you so that you can teach your children the importance of giving back to your community by setting an example of how important you think it is!

Astronomy – Stargazing is fun for the whole family and it can even be done in your own backyard. Start with constellations that are easily identifiable and fascinate your kids with the wonders of the skies!

Play Sports – Sports are a healthy way to release energy and spend time with the entire family. From soccer to volleyball, it is also a way to build social skills and to learn how to work in teams.

Get involved in the games – Whether it be a game of Simon says, red light/green light, or even playing a game of tag, make sure that you are involved in these games even if you are making up your own rules. Family fun for everyone is key to building bonds and secure attachments with your kids!

Have Fun!