[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ inner_width=”auto” inner_max_width=”none”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.22.4″ disabled=”off” disabled_on=”|off|off” z_index_tablet=”500″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Header Image – Desktop ” _builder_version=”3.22.4″ src=”https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/08\/OutdoorPlay_HP_Banner_1100x468.jpg” z_index_tablet=”500″ disabled=”off” disabled_on=”on||” \/][et_pb_image admin_label=”Header Image – Mobile ” _builder_version=”3.22.4″ src=”https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/08\/OutdoorPlay_596x449.jpg” z_index_tablet=”500″ disabled=”off” disabled_on=”off|on|on” \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.4″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_vertical_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_blur_strength=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_vertical_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_blur_strength=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ z_index_tablet=”500″ disabled=”off” disabled_on=”|on|on”]<\/p>\n
To the list, we can add a bigger brain and improved brain function. And, enhanced creativity. All of these are the benefits kids enjoy by merely playing outside.<\/p>\n
Could extra outdoor play translate to enhanced \u201csmarts\u201d in school and life?<\/strong> It certainly could and probably does! In a world where more and more school-aged children (and even plenty of preschoolers) get their play and entertainment delivered on a screen, it\u2019s essential to know how superior outdoor play is:<\/p>\n The benefits of active play start with increased blood flow and enhanced oxygen delivery to the brain. But that\u2019s not where they end. For example, Northeastern\u2019s Charles Hillman says there appears to be a memory-enhancing benefit of play, as numbers of \u201cneuro-protecting molecules\u201d have been shown to rise during play. This last discovery perhaps explains why so many kids seem to absorb and retain information better when learning takes place with repetitive, even rhythmic, forms of activity \u2013 like shooting baskets, jumping on a trampoline, or skipping rope. Note that many of these are solitary activities which do not require a team membership or an organized sports event. Indeed, having time to daydream, which is getting increased recognition as a sign of intelligence, is a factor in the value of outdoor play.<\/p>\n Next time a child you love settles in to spend free time watching TV or playing on the computer, remember that science tells us that kids ages 6\u201317 should be getting at least an hour of moderate-to-vigorous activity each day<\/strong>. How about preschoolers? The experts say that the littlest ones shouldn\u2019t stop being active until nap- or bedtime slows them down!<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.22.4″ disabled=”off” disabled_on=”on||” z_index_tablet=”500″][et_pb_column type=”3_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.4″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_vertical_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_blur_strength=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_vertical_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_blur_strength=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ z_index_tablet=”500″]<\/p>\n Could extra outdoor play translate to enhanced \u201csmarts\u201d in school and life?<\/strong> It certainly could and probably does! In a world where more and more school-aged children (and even plenty of preschoolers) get their play and entertainment delivered on a screen, it\u2019s essential to know how superior outdoor play is:<\/p>\n The benefits of active play start with increased blood flow and enhanced oxygen delivery to the brain. But that\u2019s not where they end. For example, Northeastern\u2019s Charles Hillman says there appears to be a memory-enhancing benefit of play, as numbers of \u201cneuro-protecting molecules\u201d have been shown to rise during play. This last discovery perhaps explains why so many kids seem to absorb and retain information better when learning takes place with repetitive, even rhythmic, forms of activity \u2013 like shooting baskets, jumping on a trampoline, or skipping rope. Note that many of these are solitary activities which do not require a team membership or an organized sports event. Indeed, having time to daydream, which is getting increased recognition as a sign of intelligence, is a factor in the value of outdoor play.<\/p>\n Next time a child you love settles in to spend free time watching TV or playing on the computer, remember that science tells us that kids ages 6\u201317 should be getting at least an hour of moderate-to-vigorous activity each day<\/strong>. How about preschoolers? The experts say that the littlest ones shouldn\u2019t stop being active until nap- or bedtime slows them down!<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.22.4″ src=”https:\/\/womensvoice.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/08\/UniStudy-1.jpg” z_index_tablet=”500″ \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Those rosy cheeks. Those breathless reports of everything seen and done in the park, or maybe just in the backyard. And, yes, those sparkling eyes, which will soon close from the fatigue of a fun day spent outside. To the list, we can add a bigger brain and improved brain function. And, enhanced creativity. All […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":34078,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-nutrition","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nThose rosy cheeks. Those breathless reports of everything seen and done in the park, or maybe just in the backyard. And, yes, those sparkling eyes, which will soon close from the fatigue of a fun day spent outside. <\/b><\/h3>\n