Yes, academics and extracurricular activities – like art, music, theatre, indoor play, etc – are important
But how important is outdoor play ?
Yes, how important is outdoor play, sports & physical development of a child, given that the COVID stay indoor/ isolation period is now pretty much over.
the short answer is – it’s very very important!
Let’s try to understand more on the subject.
During most of the last two-three years – most of our children have been largely constrained/restricted to go out and play. This restricted outdoor engagement, activities & play has naturally impacted social skills, and some other developmental aspects
As schools have reopened physical campuses only few months back, feedback from teachers & school campuses suggests that during lockdown most children spent less time outdoors, became less physically active and spent more time indoors, in relatively sedentary activities, including unfortunately in front of screens.
this has led to children being less fit, falling ill more frequently and sometimes with some communication, social, cognitive and developmental gaps – which need correction at the earliest – given that school closures & restrictions in residential areas had reduced opportunities to play with friends.
Since behaviours are formed and reinforced by habit. Some children have lost the habit of playing outside during this period, while others seem to “not” have had the opportunity to develop the habit at all.
Research however indicates that active outdoor play has benefits for child health, wellbeing, building team & social & team collaboration skills as well as development and educational attainment.
“play is so critical in childhood, that it is even enshrined as a human right in article 31 of the UN Rights of Child “
running, trekking, cycling, swimming, climbing, exploring and playing games not only provide opportunities for physical activity, they also stimulate imagination and creativity, help us to develop problem-solving skills and encourage interaction with others and the environment.
Free play outdoors – which isn’t organised or supervised closely by parents – is especially good for developing exploring skills, wellbeing, social and emotional development and resilience.
So dear parents – its time to encourage & restore the habit of the outdoors.
Yes it does get very hot or polluted outside on some days – so let us get innovative about facilitating the same in appropriate play areas – say in clubs, but lets overall strive to encourage free outdoor play !
Sadly, even if we were to ignore the COVID period, the time which children would have spent playing outside in the past has increasingly been replaced by screen time.
This balance needs to be corrected. Cooped up glued to a computer/phone should be tempered with blasts of fresh air, play and running free without being supervised too closely.
Resurrecting active outdoor play means getting more children outdoors more often and to rewire childhood. That means family outings to explore nature; making park visits & occasional picnic, trek or travel with family or friends routine; encouraging children to play imaginatively outside, like building dens, asking questions, doing some imaginative project or just exploring the outside – i.e. reative outdoor play will foster curiosity, exploration, co-operation, imagination and self-expression.
Repeating it becomes a habit that children enjoy and look forward to, especially if they can meet and play with other kids.
If in doubt, send them out!
this generation of children will face a range of challenges in the emerging future, including impact of climate change, some geo political shifts, and learn to handle consequences of rapid technological change(such as AI and Chat GPT). They will need to become habitually physically active too, in order to grow into healthy, resilient adults who can survive and thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
@ THE SIXTH ELEMENT SCHOOL WE BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF CATALYSING & “THE SIXTH ELEMENT” FOR EVERY CHILD. OUR CURRICULAM IS BENCHMARKED WITH THE BEST INTERNATIONALLY, WHILE DRAWING FROM OUR CORE ANCIENT BEST PRACTICES. THANKS TO ITS 18 YEARS EXPERIENCE AND ITS CORE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES DRAWN FROM PIAGET, VYGOSTKY AND BRUNER – WHICH IS INCIDENTALLY THE RESOURCE POOL – FOR THE FOUNDATIONAL YEARS SCHOOL CURRICULUM OF THE UPGRADED NEW EDUCATION (NEP) UNDER ROLL OUT IN INDIA NOW.
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