U.S. children spend 50% less time outdoors than 20 years ago and research shows that children who play outside:

• play more creatively
• have lower stress levels
• have more active imaginations
• become fitter and leaner
• develop stronger immune systems
• have greater respect for themselves, for others, and for the environment

The U.S. Forest Service and Ad Council have partnered to inspire children to reconnect with nature with their new campaign ‘Where The Other You Lives’.  While this may seem a little counter intuitive, the site offers an online place for kids to ‘play in nature’ educating them about animal sounds, animal tracks, leaf rubbings and a lesson on how to use a compass.  Maybe this will help stimulate your kids to take their new skills into nature.  You can also print a book of “Stuff to Do Outside” that has activities for kids to take with them on their adventure into a park or forest. 

For parents, there are suggestions on how to help your kids experience nature including :

• get a field guide to take with you as they can provide information about the surrounding area, plants and animals
• give your kids time to free play – let them explore and get dirty!

If you are looking for place to start, look to your neighborhood park.  Just getting outside is the perfect beginning to reconnecting your kids with nature.  When you are ready to adventure beyond the park, explore water, mountains and forests.  At the beginning of the summer, I posted a list of outdoor activities you can enjoy with your kids.  Check it out for some great ideas.

It pains me to hear that kids are getting 30 minutes of P.E. class MAYBE once per week.  However, it’s a great reminder that it’s OUR responsibility as parents to get and keep our kids active.  We are the role model to stay off our electronic time suckers ( cell phones, Crackberry, laptop, television ) and teach our kids to be outdoors.

The consequences of an indoor childhood:

• Increased lack of creativity, concentration and a decline in social skills
• Increased use of antidepressants to treat American children
• Increased aggression and inability to cope with stress
• Doubling of the childhood obesity rate with an incremental $100 billion annual cost to our public health system

Outdoor play offers undeniable benefits:

• Daily unstructured free play improves children’s physical and mental health
• Children who play outside are more physically active, more creative, less aggressive and show better concentration
• Outdoor experiences and education enhances children’s ability to learn and retain knowledge
• Outdoor experiences build a conservation ethic and concern for the natural world

Be Out There encourages families to give children a daily Green Hour®, which helps set a path toward positive physical and emotional well-being.  The Be Out There and GreenHour website has some great resources to find local activites for your family or kids to get outside.   Here are some more ideas:

Ideas to Get Your Family Outside

1. Ride your bike - and get your kids to ride theirs, too.  Even if you have toddlers just learning to ride, put on your helmet and pedal around the neighborhood with your bike.  Your toddler will follow you around.  Set up a small bike ramp for the older kids.  They’ll launch anything with wheels off of it.
2. Have a ball - start throwing the baseball or football with your kid.  Get the basketball out for a simple game of HORSE.  Again, toddler or teenager, kids want and appreciate the attention.
3. Play a game – remember Four Square, Kick the Can, Hopscotch or Red Light, Green Light?  All great games to include your kids and the kids in the neighborhood.  You’ll enjoy the nostalgia of your own childhood, too.
4. Get wet – at home, you can get out the slip ‘n slide or sprinkler.  Believe me, even the older kids can find a way to make slip ‘n slides fun.  Find a pool, lake or river or visit the beach if it’s nearby.  Kids of all ages love the water and there are tons of water activities you can do with kids from canoeing ( even toddlers can ride in the canoe ), to swimming, to fishing or surfing. 
5. Take a walk – we’re fortunate to live near miles of paved trails so we often take an early morning or late afternoon walk with our toddler riding her bike.  We’ve also taken her for short ( 3-4 mile ) hikes using a backpack for some of the trip and letting her walk for the rest.  You’ll be amazed at the flora and fauna your curious children can find during even a short walk. 
6. Go camping – backyard or campround, camping is a great way to build wonderful childhood memories.   One great event coming up is The Great American Backyard Campout on June 27th.  Camp with your family at a campground or in your own backyard.  It can be as easy as sleeping bags in a tent pitched on the grass or back patio.  Some of the best memories of my childhood are camping – it’s THAT easy to create great memories with your family for your children.

What do YOU enjoy doing with your family outside?