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No Kid Left Inside

No Kid Left Inside. Starfish Therapies Stacy M. Menz, PT, DPT. Topics. Benefits of Outdoor Play Why Kids Aren’t Outside How to Encourage Outdoor Play Ideas for Outdoor Activities. Benefits of Outdoor Play. Physical Decreased risk of obesity Decreased risk of heart disease

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No Kid Left Inside

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  1. No Kid Left Inside Starfish Therapies Stacy M. Menz, PT, DPT

  2. Topics • Benefits of Outdoor Play • Why Kids Aren’t Outside • How to Encourage Outdoor Play • Ideas for Outdoor Activities

  3. Benefits of Outdoor Play • Physical • Decreased risk of obesity • Decreased risk of heart disease • Increased Vitamin D • Improved sleep • Builds strength, endurance and coordination • Improved Behavior • Sensory input

  4. Benefits of Outdoor Play • Social and Emotional • Self expression through noise and movement • Logical thinking and ability to reason • Qualities of leadership and cooperation • Creativity and imagination • Confidence and motivation • Conflict resolution • Social skills

  5. Benefits of Outdoor Play • Educational • Nature introduces science • Exploration of 5 senses • Enhanced perceptual abilities • Several studies have shown that regular, unstructured playtime in nature makes kids smarter, calmer, happier, more self-disciplined and more cooperative

  6. Why Kids Aren’t Outside • Electronic World • TV, video games, computer, texting, etc • Balance every hour of screen time with an hour outside • AAP – screen time <= 2 hours/day

  7. Why Kids Aren’t Outside • Safety • Abduction • Are neighborhoods really less safe? • Physical injury • Prefer a more controlled indoor environment • Increased health risks

  8. Why Kids Aren’t Outside • No time • Parents and kids schedules • Babysitter or neighborhood share • Enrichment classes • Indoor sports • Reassess • An hour outside may be more enriching than an hour of indoor instruction

  9. Why Kids Aren’t Outside • Its too dirty • Unfamiliar with unscripted play • The natural outside world may seem to pale in comparison to the digital world inside

  10. How to Encourage Outdoor Play • Make them think its their own idea • Choice between two activities • Get something new • Let them pick it out • Outside only toys/activities • Sidewalk chalk, bikes, scooters, doll strollers, sandbox/toys, bubbles, water table, wading pool, sports equipment, finger painting

  11. How to Encourage Outdoor Play • Go outside with them • Family bonding • Hour walk instead of the gym • Plant a small garden • Family bike rides • Invite other kids over • Have a regular ‘park day’ • Kids play, adults socialize

  12. How to Encourage Outdoor Play • Find camps that encourage time outside • Find daycares that make outside time a priority • Invite the neighborhood • Make an outdoor schedule with other neighborhood families • Think locally • YMCA, library, bookstores, etc

  13. Ideas for Outdoor Activities • Sidewalk chalk • Bubbles • Water balloon toss • Play in the sand • Playgrounds and play structures • Ball activities • Basketball, tennis, soccer, catch, baseball, t-ball

  14. Ideas for Outdoor Activities • Scavenger hunt • In the yard or neighborhood or park • Plant a garden • Roller skating/blading

  15. Ideas for Outdoor Activities • These games can be found at http://grandparents.about.com/od/projectsactivities/tp/OutdoorGames.htm • Swing the Statue • Sneaky Sprinkler • Horse Basketball • Red Light, Green Light • Shadowing • Hide and Seek

  16. Ideas for Outdoor Activities • More ideas from: http://grandparents.about.com/od/projectsactivities/tp/OutdoorGames.htm • Flashlight Tag • Red Rover • Kickball • Four Square Ball • Hopscotch • Capture the Flag

  17. Ideas for Outdoor Activities • These ideas can be found at: http://family.go.com/entertainment/article-mm-77587-10-fun-outdoor-games-for-kids-t/ • Big Foot Relay • Batty Bowling • Name-It Ball • Frisbee Tower • Blind Walk

  18. Ideas for Outdoor Activities • More ideas from: http://family.go.com/entertainment/article-mm-77587-10-fun-outdoor-games-for-kids-t/ • Cross Step • Pick Pocket Tag • Kill the Cockroach • Drag the Body • Blind Snakes

  19. Conclusion • There are a lot of reasons and benefits to get your kids (and yourself) outside and playing • The solutions boil down to • Make it fun • Go outside with them • You are the biggest influence on your child • Turn off the tv, computer, video games • Get other kids/families involved

  20. Questions? • Please don’t hesitate to contact me for any questions • Stacy M. Menz, PT, DPT • stacy@starfishtherapies.com • 415-346-3853 • http://starfishtherapies.wordpress.com

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