Image Source: Unsplash
If you’re like many parents, you probably know that you need to encourage your kids to get away from the TV and spend time outdoors. Many older parents remember when their mom and dad used to get them outside at an early age, and it was there that they could make friends, have new adventures, and grow and mature. In addition to these perks, exposing your kids to nature can also help to boost their creativity, which is important as they age.
Let’s talk about the perks of the outdoors, how to get your kids to embrace nature, and specific activities that can help them along the way.
How Nature Can Help With Creativity And General Well-Being
Before discussing the connection between nature and creativity, parents should be happy to know that being outside can also help their child’s overall well-being. The vitamin D they receive from the sun alone is a major game changer because it helps them grow strong bones and prevent deficiencies that can cause aches and pains and delayed motor development as they grow older.
Plus, kids that spend time outside are more likely to run around and engage with friends and classmates, which means they’re less likely to become obese down the road. Engagement with others is also essential because that’s when your kids can build relationships. At the same time, they create new games and even their own special languages. Thus begins their foray into creativity.
There are other ways your children can be more creative by being outside. Studies show that when they spend time taking a walk or playing at the park, there’s a general reduction in stress and anxiety. When your kids aren’t worried about life, they can free their minds to be more creative. Also, when your kids are out taking their walk, they have a chance to daydream about anything their mind can conjure up, and they can use those creative thoughts in their future endeavors.
As a final thought, consider that when you encourage your kids to head outside, you allow them to spend time without structure so they can play freely and make their own rules. It’s amazing what your kids can think up when they are left to their own devices.
Getting The Kids Outside
Many parents realize the benefits of getting their kids out into the backyard. Still, it can sometimes be easier said than done. After all, you need to compete with video games, smartphones, and apps that can steal their attention. Some kids can be more attached to their screens than others and become addicted, so parents must step in and track their usage and make rules around the home that says when kids must unplug, like during the hours before bed.
Video games are a major distraction these days, and it doesn’t get easier when a new game and platform comes out every week. It’s worth noting that video games can boost creativity when played in moderation, especially when they require problem-solving skills. However, without the proper parental limits, gaming can quickly get out of hand. Make it a point to enforce healthy gamer habits by setting time limits and telling the kids that they should stop playing after reaching a certain score or getting a “game over” screen.
There’s also a good rule you can try where you say that for every 60 minutes of video games, your children must pair that with 60 minutes of physical activity. Send them outside during that time.
Some kids don’t need an excuse to mope around indoors, so parents can change that by leading by example. Create a new routine where you bring them to the park every Sunday, or make it a point to take nature hikes every weekend, and your kids will be more likely to follow your lead. Remember that you don’t need to live in the country, the suburbs or other wide-open spaces to get outside. Even those in an urban environment can experience nature by visiting a botanical garden, a city park, or traveling to a local farmers market.
Specific Activities That Can Help With Creativity
While you can send your kids outside and count on their ability to daydream to get their creative juices flowing, there are certain activities that can actively foster your child’s imagination.
You can literally put their creativity in motion by making outdoor crafts. Ideas could include:
- Making a sculpture out of mud.
- Drawing an image on the sidewalk with chalk.
- Spraying paint into the spokes of a bike to create splatter art.
- Putting paint into water balloons and throwing them to create a visual masterpiece.
- Using leaves to create a collage.
There are also many opportunities to spread their wings during nature hikes. Encourage them to take photographs of interesting sights or bring an easel and paint into the woods so they can recreate what they see. Starting a garden is another great way to spark creativity because your child will love to see a small seed that they planted grow into a gorgeous flower. They may want to try other projects as a result.
In the end, there are countless ways that your child’s creativity can be nurtured by spending time outdoors, so start them young. Try something new, and don’t be too hard on your kids along the way; you’ll be amazed at what they create.
