Now that summer is just about here, and the earth is fully alive, the natural world beckons.  I believe we cannot underestimate the value of time spent outside.  The sunshine and fresh air benefit adults and children alike, and even the earth itself. 

     Of course there are obvious physical health benefits to outdoor activity.  Taking a hike, going for a bike ride or a swim, or even walking around the neighborhood will get the blood pumping and fresh air into the lungs.  And the price is right.  Who needs to spend $100 a month on a gym membership when fitness can be free, available simply by enjoying some regular outdoor activity?

     Outdoor time may be even more important for kids than for adults.  But few kids today spend much time running around outside.  And one need only visit a school to see that a shocking proportion of children are either overweight or obese.  Sadly, children are suffering in other ways as well from their ‘outdoor deficit,’ according to Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods (2006). 

     Louv cites research which shows that kids who are missing out on outdoor exercise are far more likely to suffer depression, anxiety, and other mental and physical health problems than kids who play outside regularly.     

     Louv calls for parents to turn off the TV and video games and to get the kids outdoors, and for schools to include more outdoor activity in the school day, instead of crowding out outdoor play time in favor of more academics.  

     Regular outdoor time is also an investment in a healthy planet.  After all, why will we care about protecting the beauty and diversity of life if we have little or no experience of that beauty and diversity?  We don’t care about protecting what we don’t value.

     By getting kids outside, having fun and enjoying their surroundings, they will more likely grow into adults who care about the environment.  Direct experiences with the natural world during childhood may well stay with kids into adulthood.  

     So let’s all get outside this summer.  And bring the kids along.  Enjoyment of the outdoors is a win-win-win activity.–April Moore 

    

  

This entry was posted on Friday, May 29th, 2009 at 9:07 am and is filed under Act now to save our beloved Earth!. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.