I was supposed to write a blog promoting the idea of getting outside to play. So, here goes:

Go outside and play.

Blog’s done. 🙂

Yeah, but when have I ever stopped at just four words? (LOL!) That and it’s actually not that simple because what I realized is that many of us pay to have our kids “go outside and play” and we’ve lost sight of the fact that active outdoor play is actually free! Now that I can blog about!

Many of our kids are involved in multiple expensive, structured, highly-competitive activities. Our (fair, valid) justification of the expense sounds something like, “Their bodies are reaping health benefits from all that physical activity” or “They are learning team work and sportsmanship” etc. Guess what…free, unstructured, outdoor (or even indoor) play benefits them in exactly the same way. We have ourselves convinced that we have to pay for those benefits. We don’t.

I could sit here and recite all the many benefits of free, active outdoor play (and all play is learning – so, outdoor learning as well) but honestly, it’s a beautiful day. Fall colours are starting and I just want to get outside! So, below you’ll find some links I think any parent could use to understand the importance of free, active play (outdoor or otherwise) and encourage our kids to play the way we just naturally did back in the day. Maybe this blog really is that simple: “Go outside and play.”

Easy to find play activities in the outdoors

ParticipACTION – Bring Back Play

Is Active Play Extinct?

Halton Region – Tourism

What are you going to play outside?

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For parenting information or to speak with a Public Health Nurse (every Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) Simply dial 311 or 905-825-6000.

About this blogger:

Paula D’Orazio RN is a public health nurse with the Early Years Health Program at the Halton Region Health Department. Wanna know more about her? Read her blogs! She’ll tell ya! (She kinda likes to talk.)