No Kid Left Inside

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No Kid Left Inside

• Starfish Therapies
• Stacy M. Menz, PT, DPT

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Topics

• Benefits of Outdoor Play
• Why Kids Arent Outside
• How to Encourage Outdoor Play
• Ideas for Outdoor Activities

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Benefits of Outdoor Play

• Physical
• Decreased risk of obesity
• Decreased risk of heart disease
• Increased Vitamin D
• Improved sleep
• Builds strength, endurance and coordination
• Improved Behavior
• Sensory input

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Benefits of Outdoor Play

• Social and Emotional
• Self expression through noise and movement
• Logical thinking and ability to reason
• Qualities of leadership and cooperation
• Creativity and imagination
• Confidence and motivation
• Conflict resolution
• Social skills

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Benefits of Outdoor Play

• Educational
• Nature introduces science
• Exploration of 5 senses
• Enhanced perceptual abilities
• Several studies have shown that regular,
  unstructured playtime in nature makes kids
  smarter, calmer, happier, more self-disciplined
  and more cooperative

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Why Kids Arent Outside

• Electronic World
• TV, video games, computer, texting, etc
• Balance every hour of screen time with an hour
  outside
• AAP screen time lt 2 hours/day

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Why Kids Arent Outside

• Safety
• Abduction
• Are neighborhoods really less safe?
• Physical injury
• Prefer a more controlled indoor environment
• Increased health risks

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Why Kids Arent Outside

• No time
• Parents and kids schedules
• Babysitter or neighborhood share
• Enrichment classes
• Indoor sports
• Reassess
• An hour outside may be more enriching than an
  hour of indoor instruction

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Why Kids Arent Outside

• Its too dirty
• Unfamiliar with unscripted play
• The natural outside world may seem to pale in
  comparison to the digital world inside

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How to Encourage Outdoor Play

• Make them think its their own idea
• Choice between two activities
• Get something new
• Let them pick it out
• Outside only toys/activities
• Sidewalk chalk, bikes, scooters, doll strollers,
  sandbox/toys, bubbles, water table, wading pool,
  sports equipment, finger painting

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How to Encourage Outdoor Play

• Go outside with them
• Family bonding
• Hour walk instead of the gym
• Plant a small garden
• Family bike rides
• Invite other kids over
• Have a regular park day
• Kids play, adults socialize

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How to Encourage Outdoor Play

• Find camps that encourage time outside
• Find daycares that make outside time a priority
• Invite the neighborhood
• Make an outdoor schedule with other neighborhood
  families
• Think locally
• YMCA, library, bookstores, etc

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Ideas for Outdoor Activities

• Sidewalk chalk
• Bubbles
• Water balloon toss
• Play in the sand
• Playgrounds and play structures
• Ball activities
• Basketball, tennis, soccer, catch, baseball,
  t-ball

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Ideas for Outdoor Activities

• Scavenger hunt
• In the yard or neighborhood or park
• Plant a garden
• Roller skating/blading

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Ideas for Outdoor Activities

• These games can be found at http//grandparents.ab
  out.com/od/projectsactivities/tp/OutdoorGames.htm
• Swing the Statue
• Sneaky Sprinkler
• Horse Basketball
• Red Light, Green Light
• Shadowing
• Hide and Seek

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Ideas for Outdoor Activities

• More ideas from http//grandparents.about.com/od/
  projectsactivities/tp/OutdoorGames.htm
• Flashlight Tag
• Red Rover
• Kickball
• Four Square Ball
• Hopscotch
• Capture the Flag

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Ideas for Outdoor Activities

• These ideas can be found at http//family.go.com/
  entertainment/article-mm-77587-10-fun-outdoor-game
  s-for-kids-t/
• Big Foot Relay
• Batty Bowling
• Name-It Ball
• Frisbee Tower
• Blind Walk

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Ideas for Outdoor Activities

• More ideas from http//family.go.com/entertainmen
  t/article-mm-77587-10-fun-outdoor-games-for-kids-t
  /
• Cross Step
• Pick Pocket Tag
• Kill the Cockroach
• Drag the Body
• Blind Snakes

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Conclusion

• There are a lot of reasons and benefits to get
  your kids (and yourself) outside and playing
• The solutions boil down to
• Make it fun
• Go outside with them
• You are the biggest influence on your child
• Turn off the tv, computer, video games
• Get other kids/families involved

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Questions?

• Please dont hesitate to contact me for any
  questions
• Stacy M. Menz, PT, DPT
• stacy_at_starfishtherapies.com
• 415-346-3853
• http//starfishtherapies.wordpress.com