Blog – Your hands are full: How outdoor play lightens the load – Parentline NI
A blog post written for Parentline NI by parent, Julie Edler
As a mum to three boys with just under 4 years between the oldest and youngest, I have endured my fair share of sympathetic looks and been told ‘you have your hands full’ way too many times. I have avoided shops and restaurants (still do), softs play and trampoline parks (too expensive for three) and days out to places like W5 feel like a logistical marathon on your own!
In my children’s short lives they have lived in Haiti where it was hot and sunny everyday, spent two winters in Canada where it was so cold that your eyelashes froze outside and we now live in the perpetually damp climate of Northern Ireland. Yet no matter what the weather – one truth has surfaced: my boys are happiest, most settled, and have the most fun when they are playing outside.
As a children’s physiotherapist I know the benefits of outdoor play for my boys development, but as a parent, I needed it for my own sanity. I couldn’t bear to stay indoors and endure a screaming baby, or break up another fist fight or listen to ‘baby shark’ one more time. So, we got the gear on – and went out – rain, snow or shine! Most of the time it was a battle especially in Canada where it would take us a full 30 minutes to get everyone suitably dressed so we didn’t freeze to death!
But everyone ALWAYS came home in a better mood than what they went out in. As a mum here are some of the benefits I have found from outdoor play:
It’s good for me and my kids – I get time in nature, I meet my friends, get some steps in and my kids are happy which makes my life a lot easier.
Outdoor play develops resilience. Being outdoors brings its own challenges. The weather can change, kids can get tired and wet or fall over. As children learn to deal with disappointment, they are building resilience and are learning how to cope with disappointment.
In outdoor free play children develop life skills. While playing with no adult input (supervision only) children learn to work together, to follow a leader, to be the leader, to resolve conflict, to manage their emotions, problem solve, use critical thinking, use their imagination, and get a sense of achievement and when they have worked together to create whatever it is they have been playing with.
Outdoor play gives children opportunities to move in complex ways and develops their sensory system – Think about what kids do when they are outside, they run, climb, jump, slide, squat, hang upside down, swing and more! They are moving their body in so many ways which helps to build strength, flexibility, agility, balance, endurance and provides them with a very rich sensory experience.
Its free and it doesn’t have to be complicated – Get the gear, bring some snacks and head to the forest, the beach or the playground. Once your in the car that is most of the battle over!
Now you know the benefits how are you going to implement it. Here are my top tips for getting outside.
NEVER tell them its a walk. Say your going to the forest, or the beach or the park or out to play. Even though it is a walk they don’t like walks. They like running and climbing and playing!
ENTICE them with a snack. A great way to get kids in the car first or out in the garden.
MEET friends. Its a win win kids get to play and you get to chat.
GET the gear – you need it! Waterproof trousers, puddle suits, a second hand coat you don’t mind getting muddy and waterproof shoes!
DON’T stay on the path. Kids like to explore, they like adventure and most of them don’t want to be restricted to the path.
My boys are now 10, 8 and 6 and I still get the ‘you have your hands full.’ Although not as much. Occasionally I take them with me to Home Bargains or Tesco to pick up the odd thing and eating out looks like a pizza in the park. Now I am out of the trenches of parenting toddlers I enjoy watching the boys build dams and forts, collect sticks and acorns, climb trees and throw stones in the water knowing that being outdoors is good for them and good for me.
Blog – Your hands are full: How outdoor play lightens the load – Parentline NI
A blog post written for Parentline NI by parent, Julie Edler
As a mum to three boys with just under 4 years between the oldest and youngest, I have endured my fair share of sympathetic looks and been told ‘you have your hands full’ way too many times. I have avoided shops and restaurants (still do), softs play and trampoline parks (too expensive for three) and days out to places like W5 feel like a logistical marathon on your own!
In my children’s short lives they have lived in Haiti where it was hot and sunny everyday, spent two winters in Canada where it was so cold that your eyelashes froze outside and we now live in the perpetually damp climate of Northern Ireland. Yet no matter what the weather – one truth has surfaced: my boys are happiest, most settled, and have the most fun when they are playing outside.
As a children’s physiotherapist I know the benefits of outdoor play for my boys development, but as a parent, I needed it for my own sanity. I couldn’t bear to stay indoors and endure a screaming baby, or break up another fist fight or listen to ‘baby shark’ one more time. So, we got the gear on – and went out – rain, snow or shine! Most of the time it was a battle especially in Canada where it would take us a full 30 minutes to get everyone suitably dressed so we didn’t freeze to death!
But everyone ALWAYS came home in a better mood than what they went out in. As a mum here are some of the benefits I have found from outdoor play:
It’s good for me and my kids – I get time in nature, I meet my friends, get some steps in and my kids are happy which makes my life a lot easier.
Outdoor play develops resilience. Being outdoors brings its own challenges. The weather can change, kids can get tired and wet or fall over. As children learn to deal with disappointment, they are building resilience and are learning how to cope with disappointment.
In outdoor free play children develop life skills. While playing with no adult input (supervision only) children learn to work together, to follow a leader, to be the leader, to resolve conflict, to manage their emotions, problem solve, use critical thinking, use their imagination, and get a sense of achievement and when they have worked together to create whatever it is they have been playing with.
Outdoor play gives children opportunities to move in complex ways and develops their sensory system – Think about what kids do when they are outside, they run, climb, jump, slide, squat, hang upside down, swing and more! They are moving their body in so many ways which helps to build strength, flexibility, agility, balance, endurance and provides them with a very rich sensory experience.
Its free and it doesn’t have to be complicated – Get the gear, bring some snacks and head to the forest, the beach or the playground. Once your in the car that is most of the battle over!
Now you know the benefits how are you going to implement it. Here are my top tips for getting outside.
NEVER tell them its a walk. Say your going to the forest, or the beach or the park or out to play. Even though it is a walk they don’t like walks. They like running and climbing and playing!
ENTICE them with a snack. A great way to get kids in the car first or out in the garden.
MEET friends. Its a win win kids get to play and you get to chat.
GET the gear – you need it! Waterproof trousers, puddle suits, a second hand coat you don’t mind getting muddy and waterproof shoes!
DON’T stay on the path. Kids like to explore, they like adventure and most of them don’t want to be restricted to the path.
My boys are now 10, 8 and 6 and I still get the ‘you have your hands full.’ Although not as much. Occasionally I take them with me to Home Bargains or Tesco to pick up the odd thing and eating out looks like a pizza in the park. Now I am out of the trenches of parenting toddlers I enjoy watching the boys build dams and forts, collect sticks and acorns, climb trees and throw stones in the water knowing that being outdoors is good for them and good for me.
