The advent of warmer weather coincides with the release of yet one more bit of evidence about the positive impact of outdoor play.
While teachers have observed more young children wearing eyeglasses, no real research offered much explanation for this phenomenon. Some theorized that children spend more time indoors looking at screens, missing out on using their eyes for much long-distance viewing.
The American Medical Association now offers newly discovered information. A recent study examined children in six schools in urban locales. Beginning when children were seven years old, half were placed in an additional 40 minute class period for outdoor activities each day. In addition, their parents were encouraged to engage their kids in outdoor play after school and on weekends. The other half of the kids in the study were encouraged to make no changes to their usual routine.
At the end of the study, researchers discovered that children who spent more time outside reduced the likelihood they would develop myopia (nearsightedness) over time.
Pile this evidence on top of the other studies that have revealed kids’ benefits from outdoor play. It stimulates the pineal gland, increasing immunities and improving sleep. It benefits social-emotional development as kids learn to manage relationships independently. It promotes cognitive, language and problem solving skills, giving kids the opportunity to think, talk, and figure out solutions.
But a recent survey of 12,000 parents in 10 countries found that one-third of kids aged 5 to 12 spend less than 30 minutes outside each day.
Contrast this minimal exposure to the outdoors with the fact that prisoners in U.S. maximum security prisons are guaranteed at least 2 hours of outdoor time each day. We seem to be providing more outdoor health benefits to incarcerated adults than to many growing children.
But spring offers a new beginning in many ways, and one can only hope parents will find ways to take advantage of outdoor play for their children. With this newly identified impact on kids’ vision, as parents look into activities that benefit their kids, I hope they see that playing outside may bring their child’s whole world into clearer focus.
