Outdoor play activities 'reduce children's stress levels'
04/06/2010 Time dedicated to unstructured outdoor play activities is important to prevent children from becoming stressed, it has been suggested.
Speaking to the Shreaveport Times, Suzanne McMillian, paediatrics occupational therapist at the Center for Therapy, said that it is essential that kids take part in outdoor play activities to develop problem solving skills, motor skills and negotiating skills.
"Free play is what we want all of our children to do," she explained.
Ms McMillian added that computer games were having a detrimental impact on children's social skills.
This is a view echoed by expert Dianne Glasgow, who told the news provider that sports and games have rules and are therefore not considered to be free play in the same way as other outdoor play activities are.
The lack of outdoor play activities was said to be leading to emotional problems among children.
A recent study claimed that, while physical activities are important for kids, exercising outdoors has added benefits as "exposure to natural environments can improve attention and decrease stress in children", the Children and Nature Network reported.
The Using Nature and Outdoor Activity to Improve Children's Health study was published in the Current Problems in Paediatric and Adolescent Health Care journal.
Speaking to the Shreaveport Times, Suzanne McMillian, paediatrics occupational therapist at the Center for Therapy, said that it is essential that kids take part in outdoor play activities to develop problem solving skills, motor skills and negotiating skills.
"Free play is what we want all of our children to do," she explained.
Ms McMillian added that computer games were having a detrimental impact on children's social skills.
This is a view echoed by expert Dianne Glasgow, who told the news provider that sports and games have rules and are therefore not considered to be free play in the same way as other outdoor play activities are.
The lack of outdoor play activities was said to be leading to emotional problems among children.
A recent study claimed that, while physical activities are important for kids, exercising outdoors has added benefits as "exposure to natural environments can improve attention and decrease stress in children", the Children and Nature Network reported.
The Using Nature and Outdoor Activity to Improve Children's Health study was published in the Current Problems in Paediatric and Adolescent Health Care journal.
