Here at Red Door, we uphold a strong learning system linked to outdoor activity. Outdoor activity plays an extremely crucial role in a child’s development. To practice that belief, we try to give our kids as much opportunity as we can to go outside and reap the benefits of fresh air and exercise.
Going outside benefits a child’s brain development more than one would think. In the book “The Importance of Outdoor Play and Its Impact on Brain Development In Children”, Edgar L. and Rheta A. Berkley explain that for children ages 2 – 3 1/2 especially, “The act of play by a child stimulates brain development and function and has key roles in building the foundation, organization, and capabilities of the brain.” They continue with, “children develop their fine and gross motor skills as well as their dexterity and balance all through exploring and risk-taking and having fun on the playground”.
From ages 3 1/2 to 5, children experience another level of development through outdoor activity. But in this stage, a child will move up from experiencing things completely through themselves and in their own mind, to realizing that other people see and live in the world around them too. It’s all about perspective. “Between ages three and five, your child goes from believing that everyone sees the world the same way to understanding that there can be multiple points of view.” During this stage, children also develop executive functions which deal with such things as memory, timing, and sequencing.
There is much to experience and learn from outdoor play. So take advantage this fall and play outside as much as possible with your children – go for a walk, take them to a local playground, let them fully explore and expand their minds so that they can realize their full potential later on in life.