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Making Family Connections ~~Outdoors~~

Making Family Connections ~~Outdoors~~. The NC Outdoor Learning Environments Alliance (NC OLE Alliance) is a group of concerned family and child agency representatives working together to encourage families to “PLAY OUTSIDE!”. What we know . . . .

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Making Family Connections ~~Outdoors~~

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  1. Making Family Connections ~~Outdoors~~

  2. The NC Outdoor Learning Environments Alliance (NC OLE Alliance) is a group of concerned family and child agency representatives working together to encourage families to “PLAY OUTSIDE!”

  3. What we know . . . We have always believed that it is healthy for children to play outdoors. An increasing body of research indicates HOW important outdoor play really is!

  4. Myth or Fact? • Being outdoors cannot affect the obesity problem. • Pediatricians recommend no TV for children under age 2 • The outdoors can help your relationship with your child • TV has led to some poor results for children and families

  5. Health Fitness Attention/Focus Emotional/Social development Social skills Language development Nature/science knowledge Complexity of play Problem-solving skills It is important for. . . and much more!

  6. Why aren’t children going outside? • Safety concerns • Crime • Traffic • Rules, regulations, sanitation • Air quality – ozone days • Sun safety • Current conditions • Lack of high quality outdoor environments • Over-emphasis on academics

  7. What are the consequences? • Decline in physical fitness • Rising childhood obesity rates, juvenile diabetes • Increase in attention issues • More allergies, asthma, respiratory illness • Children not learning to care for/appreciate the environment

  8. Obesity is a concern for adults and children • Obesity is a critical health problem that has increased to serious effects on long term health.

  9. Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1991, 1996, 2004 1991 Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults1991, 1996, 2004 (*BMI 30, or about 30 lbs overweight for 5’4” person) 1996 2004 No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%

  10. So what?! • Obese children lead to obese adults • Sedentary activities • The strongest predictor of physical activity among children is time spent outdoors.

  11. Children need 1 hour per day of vigorous activity.(U.S. Surgeon General) But… More than half of parents (54%) said that they had little or no time to spend engaged in physical activity with their children, but wish they had more time.

  12. Research tells us . . . . • Children who are exposed to natural environments attend better for longer periods of time. • Exposure to nature and natural settings improves attention span.

  13. Another consequence… • Attention and behavior problems are being increasingly reported by teachers and parents. Focus discipline ADHD impulse control

  14. Research tells us . . . . • Exposure to nature and natural settings decreases impulsivity in children. • Exposure to nature and natural settings decreases challenging behaviors in young children.

  15. Research tells us . . . . • The outdoors facilitates children's ability to expand their sense of wonder and connection to nature.

  16. Outdoor play is Great to create family connections

  17. Brainstorm • Ideas for outdoor activities for your family and friendships

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