Page 6 - October 2025 Newsletter Flip

The connection between outdoor play and physical development
Staying Active: Being out in the wide, open spaces encourages physical activity, such as running, jumping, climbing, biking, and even jumping in a swimming pool. These activities are essential
to a child's health, improving cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and overall fitness levels.
Vitamin D Production: Exposure to natural sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D, which is crucial for a person's bone health, raising dopamine levels, and immune system function. Doctors recommend getting around 10-30 minutes of sunlight per day to reap the benefits of the sun.
Healthy Sleeping Patterns: Regular outdoor play is great for maintaining the body's natural circadian rhythms, making it easier to establish healthy sleep patterns. We all know this is important for a child's routine and your own as a parent. Exposure to natural light during the day can also improve the overall quality of sleep at night.
Enhanced Motor Skills: Classic outdoor activities like climbing, swinging, and playing with garden toys improve motor skills in children. These skills are crucial for physical development and can impact a child's coordination and general ability to perform everyday tasks.
Stronger Immune System: Spending time outdoors exposes children to all of our world's natural elements, including various microorganisms and allergens. Being around germs helps strengthen the immune system and reduces the risk of allergies and autoimmune diseases.
Better Vision: Outdoor play contributes to better eye health. Spending time outdoors, in natural settings and away from artificial light has been shown to reduce the risk of nearsightedness.
Maintaining a Healthy Weight: Outdoor play is an enjoyable way to burn calories and maintain a healthy weight. It can help prevent issues like obesity and the health issues that come with it, such
as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.