During the colder months of the year it can seem like a chore to take the kids out. As tempting as it may be to spend the weekends snuggled up indoors, fresh air has long been considered a factor in ensuring that healthy children remain that way.
For much of the year, children spend six hours a day in stuffy school classrooms. Add to that after school clubs such as brownies, dance, beavers, swimming, musical instrument lessons and gymnastics, all of which are often conducted indoors, and you’ll see that children are spending the majority of their days inside. Even many sports clubs are conducted indoors in sports centres during winter, rather then out on the playing fields.
These unavoidable indoor activities already mean that our children don’t get as much fresh air as we would like. Then there is the seemingly magnetic pull of the television or the games console. A study done by Turner Media Innovations revealed that children are starting gaming younger than ever before. With cartoon themed games targeting ever-younger audiences, this is hardly surprising.
It’s one of those tough jobs as a parent to pull the family children away from the flat screens and get them out into the fresh air, whether they like the idea or not.
It’s important to do this as the physical benefits of fresh air are often underestimated. Getting outdoors on a regular basis can improve health and wellbeing as fresh air cleans the lungs and gets rid of the impurities that we inhale on a daily basis. Dust, cleaning product fumes, cooking fumes and perfumes all get into our lungs. Breathing fresh air means that you can refresh your respiratory system and enable more oxygen to get to your cells.
Of course, the fact that you usually move around more while outdoors can also definitely help to improve your families’ overall health. Rather then being glued to a television screen, when you get your kids outdoors they are likely to be kicking a football about or riding a bike or a scooter.
There are endless possible activities that you can do outdoors, no matter what the season. Even in the winter months outdoor sports can be enjoyed if you wrap up warm enough.
Find an open space and have a kick-about with the kids. Or pull the bikes or scooters out of the garage and head off on an exhilarating ride as a family. If you have a little one it can be worth investing in a bike seat so that they can ride on the back of yours. That way the whole family can benefit from a bike ride in the great outdoors.
Sometimes keeping things simple is best. Layer up and go on a winter walk as a family, exploring as you go. Younger children will find pleasure in things that we would overlook, such as crispy fallen leaves or the squelch of mud underfoot.
Older children may like their walks to have a ‘purpose’, so turning a walk into a treasure hunt, race or other kind of challenge can make it more interesting for them. Geocaching is a great thing to try with children of all ages. It can be done with most smartphones and turns the simplest of walks into an exciting treasure hunt.
Of course, winter walks can be muddy business. Wellington boots or other waterproof walking boots are a good idea and you should prepare yourself for some jumping in puddles or squelching of mud. Don’t let the laundry cleaning put you off, though. The benefits of outdoor family time mean that it’s worth having to shove the kid’s clothes in the washing machine at the end of the day.
Parks are often woefully underused in winter, so take advantage and let the kids have the run of the equipment. Many country parks have cafes where you can warm up and treat the kids to a slice of cake or a cookie after an invigorating walk around, if a spot of bribery is in order to tear them away from their consoles and cartoons.
If you’re lucky enough to live near the coast then there’s nothing to stop you using your nearest beach during the colder months. The kids will love a run along the seafront, picking up shells and watching the waves, regardless of the lack of an ice-cream van.
Trying to get the family outdoors in winter can sometimes feel like you’re fighting a losing battle. If you make outdoor winter activities fun, though, then kids will soon forget their games consoles and enjoy the family time spent together in the fresh, open air.