Choosing a learning center for your children can be overwhelming. You want a place where your child can grow, thrive, and feel safe. As you evaluate a specific learning center, you probably focus on its academics. But another important factor to consider is whether the center encourages outdoor play.
Outdoor play isn't just about letting kids have a fun break. Experiencing the outdoors is crucial to your child's well-being. Here's how outdoor learning can benefit your child.
1. IMPROVES PHYSICAL HEALTH
Learning and playing outdoors benefits children in a variety of ways. First of all, outdoor play encourages your child to stay active. An active lifestyle can help your child avoid health problems like obesity and diabetes. Regular outdoor play also exposes children to sunlight, which provides them with needed vitamin D. Vitamin D protects bones, teeth, the lungs, and the heart.
Surprisingly, outdoor play can even help your child resist disease. Studies have found that children who play outdoors have stronger immune systems. This helps them ward off various illnesses.
Plus, outdoor activities like gardening can improve children's knowledge about nutrition and even make them more likely to eat nutritious foods.
2. REDUCES STRESS AND IMPROVES FOCUS
Our modern indoor lifestyle leads to significant stress for both adults and children. Studies show that exposure to plants and animals can calm stress, improve focus, and increase emotional stability.
Studies also show that contact with nature can reduce ADHD symptoms. This is crucial in today's world, where 11 percent of children have ADHD, according to the CDC. Children with ADHD may feel calmer and more focused if they have regular exposure to the outdoors.
3. IMPROVES ACADEMIC LEARNING
As they look for a learning center, most parents rightly put academic learning as a priority. However, they may not realize that outdoor learning can actually improve academic performance.
Studies show that interacting with nature can improve children's performance in a variety of subjects. In particular, exploring scientific concepts outdoors can improve children's performance on science tests. Outdoor settings are perfect for teaching children about animal and plant life, weather and climate, and other scientific subjects.
4. IMPROVES PROBLEM SOLVING AND CREATIVITY
Being outdoors allows children to take the initiative in exploring their surroundings. They are able to discover and have hands-on interaction with the world around them. They simply can't have this same experience while sitting at a desk in a classroom.
Outdoor play can also help children use their imaginations and problem-solving skills. This will greatly benefit them in the future—no matter which industry they choose to work in. Creativity and problem solving is crucial whether your child works as an entrepreneur, an engineer, or a computer programmer.
5. ENCOURAGES RESPECT AND GOOD BEHAVIOR
While spending time outdoors, children have the opportunity to interact and play with animals and other children. Through this direct contact, children learn how to respect others and the surrounding environment. They learn important moral virtues like self-discipline, compassion, and kindness.
Children can learn about respect in indoor settings as well. However, outdoor play gives children additional space and freedom to put these virtues into practice.
Clearly, learning and playing outdoors is for more than just fun. Because of the important benefits children get from the outdoors, outdoor education should be a crucial part of your child's growing up years.
At Kids Express Learning Center, outdoor learning is an important part of our curriculum. We're located on a picturesque farm. Through our programs, children interact with alpacas, goats, and sheep and explore nature trails, ponds, and forests. Call us today to schedule an appointment and view our beautiful facility