It's beginning to feel like fall, and beautiful fall days are wonderful opportunities for parents and children to play outside together! Playing outside in nature is important for healthy brain development, and many children do not get enough time to play outside. Did you know that playing outside in wide open green spaces has actually been used as a research-based intervention for the treatment of AD/HD? Nature gives children an opportunity to slow down the pace of every day life, observe living creatures, and develop curiosity about the world around them. It is a rich, real-life learning experience, and it even helps eyesight and immunity against illnesses! The benefits are really far-reaching, so please find ways to add nature-based play to your children's lives. Here are some ideas:
- Go on a nature scavenger hunt. I tell my kids to find something for every color in the rainbow: a red leaf, an orange flower, a yellow leaf, a green blade of grass, and so on. - Wrap a piece of tape around your child's wrist with the sticky side facing outward. Tell your child to find things they think are beautiful, and stick them to the tape to make a bracelet. - Find a living creature, like a ladybug, snail, or roly poly. Tell your child not to touch, but to sit back and observe. Where does the creature go? What is it doing? Encourage your child to ask questions and wonder about the little creature. - Find a wide open green space, and run freely! Playgrounds are wonderful too, but look for a space that is wide open. Many parks have both playground space and open space. Use both! - Play I Spy. Spy things that are both near and far. If your child is ready, name the object by giving clues ("I spy something white and fluffy, high in the sky!" instead of "I spy a cloud"). - Notice any changes in your child's behavior. Time indoors, especially time spent using technology, can lead to hyperactivity, irritability, and/or conflict. Time outdoors, especially in wide open spaces, can lead to calm behavior, improved mood, and overall health.
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AuthorHi, I'm Brie Krentz, and I'm the School Psychologist at HGECC. I care about the social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health of all of our children, and I believe in Conscious Discipline as a way to minimize behavior problems and to help children connect meaningfully with others. Archives
October 2021
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