Physical activitiesplay a very import role in children’s mental and physical development. The best
physical activity in children is ‘PLAY’. Play is a method through which children learn.
Play involves so many things at the same time like thinking, imaginative
expression and feelings, and physical demands. Children learn about relationships
with peers, adults, and the world around them and how to act with them.
Types of Play
There are two types
of play indoor and outdoor. Now days
most of the children are involves in indoor play specially video games, using
computer and watching TV. Parents should encourage the children for outdoor
play as well for broaden their horizon.
Advantages of
Outdoor Play
There are so many advantages of outdoor play for example
development of their skills by achieving different tasks, exploring the world,
risk-taking, perfect motor development and the combination of vast amounts of
basic knowledge that can be most efficiently and successfully learned through outdoor play.
Purpose of Outdoor Play With reference of different reports
Outdoor activities help in children's
development. There are different reports regarding physical activities and
entertainment that shows how significant outdoor entertainment is for children:
·
Children who play regularly in natural
environments show more advanced motor fitness,
including coordination, balance and liveliness,
and they are sick less often (Grahn, et al. 1997, Fjortoft & Sageie 2001).
·
When children play in natural environments,
their play is more varied with creative activities that promote language and mutual
skills (Moore & Wong 1997, Taylor, et al. 1998, Fjortoft 2000).
·
Exposure to natural environments improves
children's cognitive growth by
improving their responsiveness, analysis and observational skills (Pyle 2002).
·
Nature helps children to expand powers of surveillance
and imagination (Crain 2001).
·
Outdoor environments are important to
children's development of independence and self-sufficiency (Bartlett 1996).
·
Play in outdoor environments stimulates all
aspects of children development more than indoor environments (Moore & Wong
1997).
·
Outdoors,
a child learns on multiple levels with each new adventure (Burdette and
Whitaker, 2005).
Some Examples of Outdoor Play
There are some examples of outdoor play or entertainment
such as Ball games in the local park, walk or cycle ride, Using a skate park,
Exploring the beach e.g. swimming, fossil hunting, stone skimming. You can also
entertain your children with different range of outdoor games such as throwing a
ball into a bucket and varying the distance, sack
races,
Parachute games, Running around, Catching games, Kicking and throwing using a
soft ball, Running and stopping and hitting a soft ball.
New Trends of Inflatable and Bouncy Castles
Another new trend of outdoor
entertainment for kids is bounce houses, bouncy castles and slides that attract them very much. Now children
love to have these inflatable on different occasions like birthday parties and
other different events. It’s a source of healthy entertainment. Now there are many companies that are
providing bouncy castles on different occasions according to safety standards
of children. They are providing the best services that is a great way to
promote enjoyable and health activity and provide excitement and value to any
outdoor event that is a best entertainment for kids. Kids always love to play
in bounce house at parties and other events. Inflatable water slides are also
very exciting outdoor entertainment for kids.
Conclusion
Parents should encourage their children for the outdoor games. If you
have a courtyard, or a big compound then these are best places where children
can play. Make sure that area is clear from any dangerous debris or any other
things that may harm your child. If you take your children to a park, stay close
enough to keep an eye on them, so far enough to let them play, explore or just
enjoy on their own. These things give them confidence and make a good and
strong personality.
