Whether playing in the backyard, a walk in the neighborhood, or a family canoe trip, father-child time spent outdoors is good for your child, and you!
—
If you go to the park on a weekday afternoon in spring or get out to a natural area for a Saturday morning hike to see summer wildflowers, you can see that more dads are getting the message about how important it is to get out into nature with their children. You see them with jogger strollers, baby backpacks, carriers of all kinds, getting their kids outside even at a very young age.
More Exercise
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that kids get at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a day. It also estimates that only a fraction of American kids meet that goal, which at least partly explains the growing epidemic of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes. Simply getting your kids out for afternoon walks, weekend canoeing, or camping trips can go a long way to helping them see physical activity as a normal and fun part of life. This can set them up for a lifetime of physical fitness and a love of exercise.
Manage Stress
Stress is as much a problem for children nowadays as it is for parents. It is important that dads show their kids how to deal with stress in natural, healthful ways. Studies have shown that those who spend time in natural environments—like forests—show decreased inflammation, decreased levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and have an overall better state of mental health.
More Happiness
What does any parent want more than for their children to simply be happy? The answer is not in more computer games and toys, but simply in more time outside. Scientists have found that children who are exposed to sunlight develop higher levels of serotonin, the “feel-good” chemical in the brain that leads to feelings of happiness and contentment.
Improve Sleep
Do you have problems getting kids to sleep at a decent hour at night — or, if they are younger, do you come in for a battle royal at nap time? Being outside can help this, too. Exercise stimulates the pineal gland to produce more melatonin, the hormone which helps to regulate wake and sleep cycles and can help your children get a better quality of sleep. And let’s face it, kids who have been running around outside all day and burning off that energy tend to sleep better anyways!
Better Concentration
If your child has ADHD, this is another great reason why you should be heading out into the great outdoors. Research has shown that children taking walks in natural environments should substantial improvement in their ability to concentrate after these excursions. If this is done regularly, it can help them in school and with the social behaviors that kids with this condition can sometimes struggle with.
And, last but not least…
Father-Child Quality Time
One of the best reasons to take your kids outside is simply the joy of having quality time together. You and your children will make memories—on bike rides, camping trips, campfires, hikes in the woods, or fishing in the river—to carry with fondness the rest of your lives.
—
The role of men is changing in the 21st century. Want to keep up?
Get the best stories from The Good Men Project delivered straight to your inbox, here.
Photo credit: Flickr/Cindy Shebley