Now is the time to deliver on that right. For everyone.
Let me begin by saying getting outdoors is crucial to your health and not everyone has the same opportunity or access to the great outdoors.
We are not outside for 4-6 hours everyday. We aim for 4-6 hours outside at least three to four times a week (a little more in the nicer months and a little less in the worse ones).
It is a far cry from typical child activities these days, most of which last no longer than an hour. Children who are allowed this freedom of time outside get lost in nature. They get lost in their imaginations and they get lost in wonder. And then they rapidly develop. There are many factors why but one reason is due to the rich sensory environment that nature always provides.
Our 1000 Hours Outside Goal is loosely based on the writings of Charlotte Mason but we have adapted to make room for daily life. Interestingly, her findings about what is healthy for development of the whole child are consistently being backed by research over 100 years later.
In Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident and Capable Children, kids of all ages should get at least three hours of free play outdoors a day.” I’m all for balance. Understandably, family life is a tricky juggle. But no matter the situation we are in we owe it to our children to try our best to give them baseline the components they need for higher-level development.
Maybe 4-6 hours a day outside isn’t doable but the current statistics say that the average child only gets 4-7 minutes of outdoor free play every day. This means that the average child is probably outside for 30 minutes or so a few times a week.
When kids are given time to be outside their bodies instinctively seek out the sensory input they need to grow and develop.
Time spent outdoors is also critical for adults as well as people with disabilities. If children can consume media through screens 1200 hours a year on average than the time is there and at least some of it can and should be shifted towards a more productive and healthy outcome.
As a man confined to a wheelchair I find that being outdoors is a healing soothing place to relax. Outdoors is a great place to open your creative thinking.
Brian P Swift J.D. Coach – Business & Personal Strategist – Speaker bswift62@comcast.net brianpswift.com
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