Outdoor play activities 'must be encouraged'
06/04/2010 Children should be encouraged to take part in outdoor play activities during break times at school as it will help them develop good habits, according to one expert.
Dr Simon Rabinowitz, chief of paediatrics at Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton, told silive.com, that there are many benefits of outdoor play activities, including increased mental alertness, exposure to Vitamin D and improved heart health.
He believes that encouraging children to head outside during school hours will make them more likely to take part in outdoor play activities when they get home.
"We need to support initiatives that encourage children to go outside and play with each other. It's become a sort of foreign notion for kids to go out and just run around [and] play together," he told the news provider.
A recent survey from Play England found that over three-quarters of parents believe that the government should make outdoor play activities a priority.
In total 83 per cent of mothers and fathers questioned said policies should be created to encourage children to get outside.
Dr Simon Rabinowitz, chief of paediatrics at Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton, told silive.com, that there are many benefits of outdoor play activities, including increased mental alertness, exposure to Vitamin D and improved heart health.
He believes that encouraging children to head outside during school hours will make them more likely to take part in outdoor play activities when they get home.
"We need to support initiatives that encourage children to go outside and play with each other. It's become a sort of foreign notion for kids to go out and just run around [and] play together," he told the news provider.
A recent survey from Play England found that over three-quarters of parents believe that the government should make outdoor play activities a priority.
In total 83 per cent of mothers and fathers questioned said policies should be created to encourage children to get outside.
