From obesity to allergies, the best medicine for children is outdoor sports!

August 5, 2019 / BIOON / - what if there was a simple, cheap and interesting way to solve some of the major challenges facing humanity today? What if it can help improve the health, development and well-being of children? Think of a solution that can stem the current prevalence of obesity, anxiety and depression that affects children and adolescents Imagine that this solution can also promote brain health, creativity and academic achievement, preparing our children for a rapidly changing workforce In the process, it reduces the incidence of allergies, asthma and other immune challenges, and improves eye health It can foster a culture of environmental management and sustainability, and help build urban health - promoting a sense of good neighbourliness and community ties Imagine that such interventions could also help countries achieve many of the goals of the United Nations sustainable development goals, such as good health and well-being, inclusive and equitable quality education, decent work, economic growth and climate action Photo source: http://cn.bing.com this is not an expensive intervention, nor is it something parents force their children to do - such as doing homework or eating vegetables Children report that when they do, they are happiest, not afraid, and they find ways to stick with it as long as possible What is this simple solution? Play outside The magic of outdoor games many of us have good memories of childhood spent outdoors, hanging out with friends in our communities, parks and the wild, and making rules without adult (if any) supervision We just need to reflect on our play memories to realize how valuable these experiences are and how they shape our lifelong health and development This research is now catching up with our intuition and recognizing the huge and diverse benefits of playing outdoors Playing outdoors is not the same as playing indoors There are many unique benefits of being outdoors, especially in nature When children are allowed to play the way they want in a stimulating environment, they move more, sit less, and play longer They reach into the soil and are exposed to microbes that help them build their immunity They set their own goals, find out the steps to achieve them, and help them build executive function skills They learn, build resilience, develop social skills, learn how to manage risk and ensure their safety Their eyes get the exercise they need to fight myopia We are rediscovering the magic of outdoor games The government thinks it's a way to get kids active and avoid the obesity crisis Schools and early childhood centres see it as a way to promote academic and social emotional learning The company sees it as a way to prepare children for future work that will focus on creativity, compassion and connection with others Children just see it as a way to enjoy fun and freedom! There are three key factors that adults must let go of their fear and support outdoor sports: time, space and freedom Photo source: http://cn.bing.com children need time to play outside In school, it means a break policy that allows children to go outdoors every day, looking for opportunities to take advantage of outdoor learning and limit homework At home, this means putting the screen aside and limiting planned structured activities Children also need high-quality outdoor space to play This does not necessarily mean expensive playground equipment It refers to the space that all children find popular No matter their ability and background, they can make their own, or use some loose parts (such as sticks, stones, water and cartons) to let their imagination shape the game In cities, it means being prepared to play everywhere, not just in parks and playgrounds We need to design inclusive and child friendly cities so that children feel welcome everywhere and can easily access nature Finally, freedom: the biggest obstacle for children to play as they want is adults We need to let go of our excessive fear of harm and kidnapping and realize that the benefits of children going out to play far outweigh the risks Researchers are developing a risk restructuring tool for parents and caregivers to help them complete the process Supporting children in life and helping them play outdoors is as easy as opening a front door It does not require complex or expensive equipment If each of us does our part, we can help to restore this important activity, regardless of age, cultural background, gender or ability, which should be part of the daily lives of all children Outdoor exercise can reduce allergies, asthma and other immune challenges Photo source: http://cn.bing.com whether you are a parent, carer, educator, urban planner or neighbor, there are many tools to help you get started I encourage you to think about a simple thing you need to do today to help your children or children in your life go out and play Reference materials: [1] from objectivity to alliances, outdoor play is the best medicine for children [2] about the sustainable development goals [3] Sara brunelle et al Play worth remembering: are playgrounds to safety? Children， Youth and Environments Vol 26， No 1 (2016)， pp 17-36 DOI： 10.7721/chilyoutenvi.26.1.0017 【4】 Outsideplay.ca 【5】 Worldwide trends in body-mass index， underweight， overweight， and obesity from 1975 to 2016： a pooled analysis of 2416 population-based measurement studies in 128·9 million children， adolescents， and adults
NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) The Lancet 2017 DOI：https：//doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32129-3
【6】 About Unstructured Play