Outdoor play activities 'improve social skills'
18/08/2010 Outdoor play activities are important as they encourage children to interact with other and form relationships, according to one expert.
Amy Schofield, editor of education and parenting website mychild.co.uk, explained that outdoor play activities provide children with an opportunity to develop social skills.
Spending time outdoors also boosts the levels of physical activity children take part in. A survey commissioned by TV channel Eden recently found that 73 per cent of children spend more time in front of the TV than they do taking part in outdoor play activities.
Ms Schofield added that outdoor play activities also give parents the opportunity to allow their kids to let off steam.
"Most importantly for frazzled parents, [it] wears them out so they're not bouncing off the walls every evening after an inactive day spent in front of screens," she explained.
The survey by Eden found that 36 per cent of kids only take part in outdoor activities once a week or less.
Amy Schofield, editor of education and parenting website mychild.co.uk, explained that outdoor play activities provide children with an opportunity to develop social skills.
Spending time outdoors also boosts the levels of physical activity children take part in. A survey commissioned by TV channel Eden recently found that 73 per cent of children spend more time in front of the TV than they do taking part in outdoor play activities.
Ms Schofield added that outdoor play activities also give parents the opportunity to allow their kids to let off steam.
"Most importantly for frazzled parents, [it] wears them out so they're not bouncing off the walls every evening after an inactive day spent in front of screens," she explained.
The survey by Eden found that 36 per cent of kids only take part in outdoor activities once a week or less.
