Benefits of outdoor play to be explored in weeklong event
11/03/2010 Children in the south-east will be getting all the benefits of outdoor play activities for a whole seven days thanks to a new event.
The Department of Health South East has set up outdoor play week with the aim of getting more children away from the TV and into the real world.
Diane Farmer, physical activity projects manager at NHS West Sussex, told the Portsmouth News that the benefits of outdoor play activities include improved happiness, confidence and fitness.
"It's a sign of the times that children and young people are spending more time than ever before indoors rather than enjoying the beauty and fresh air of the outdoors," she added.
Special events will be held in destinations across the region, including the South Downs National Park, the newspaper reports.
Recent research conducted by Play England suggested that supervised outdoor play activities could help reduce the risk of children offending and engaging in anti-social behaviour.
They also help children from all backgrounds interact with each other, according to the report.
The Department of Health South East has set up outdoor play week with the aim of getting more children away from the TV and into the real world.
Diane Farmer, physical activity projects manager at NHS West Sussex, told the Portsmouth News that the benefits of outdoor play activities include improved happiness, confidence and fitness.
"It's a sign of the times that children and young people are spending more time than ever before indoors rather than enjoying the beauty and fresh air of the outdoors," she added.
Special events will be held in destinations across the region, including the South Downs National Park, the newspaper reports.
Recent research conducted by Play England suggested that supervised outdoor play activities could help reduce the risk of children offending and engaging in anti-social behaviour.
They also help children from all backgrounds interact with each other, according to the report.
