Our children are at risk of obesity along with a whole range of health problems simply because spending time outside is no longer a parental priority.
When I was growing up, we were outside, coming in only for meals. There were lots of neighbor kids to play with and because most of our mothers were home during the day, no one really worried about us. My mother knew if she couldn’t see me one of the neighbors could. I remember my grandmother saying “Go outside, get the stink blown off of you.” That was her way of saying it was good for us, and it was.
Gone are the days when your children were playing outside while you vacuumed and you didn’t have to worry about them. They were safe in a neighborhood where everyone knew them.
Now, many families are headed by single parents who work, in most two parent families both parents work. This means, especially in the winter, we don’t have the time to take our kids outside to play.
As a single working mother I have to admit that during the week it was rare for Hailey to play outside. I just didn’t have time to sit outside with her and since I didn’t know anyone in the neighborhood I couldn’t be sure that someone else was supervising the kids while they played.
Knowing how important getting outside and exercising are in the fight against obesity, we really need to make some changes. Does your daycare provider make sure the kids play outside every day? Does your child’s school take the children outside at recess? Children need at least an hour of activity outside every day, and you shouldn’t just depend on others to make sure they get it.
Physical activity will help our children’s brains develop in different ways. Children who have ADHD benefit from burning off some of that energy, it allows them to focus better when they are inside.
As a single parent it’s hard to fit everything into the day. You come home, make dinner supervise homework, referee sibling argument, do a load of laundry, wash dishes, supervise baths, and before you know it another day is done and you are falling into bed exhausted.
Getting outside will benefit you as well as the children. Any exercise will help you feel better and give you more energy. Tonight, after dinner, grab a flashlight and your kids and go on a nature walk. It may be the most fun they’ve had in ages.