Take a moment to think about some of your most memorable experiences as a child. Many of us who are grown-ups today can fondly remember playing outside in our neighborhood with friends or our first visit to a national park.
As adults, we can reflect on the awe and wonder being in nature inspires and we also know how vital it is for our children to have similar experiences.
Utah House Concurrent Resolution 4, supporting Utah’s Every Kid Outdoors Initiative, affirms that every child in Utah should have the opportunity to experience the outdoors. Whether it’s splashing in the Great Salt Lake, exploring a national park or playing in a neighborhood playground, recreation activities are important for our children as future adult Utahns.
In a 2010 report for the Children and Nature Network assessing American adults’ attitudes toward children’s experiences in nature, it was shown that adults generally believe that time in the out-of-doors is important for all children.
Today, with 8-to-12-year-olds spending nearly five hours a day on screen-time (watching TV, on a computer or other device), the outdoors has a lot more competition than it used to. But the benefits of making room for time in nature are many, including:
Increased fitness levels. Childhood obesity rates are climbing but playing outside can help children stay healthy.
A decrease in stress levels. Simply looking at green spaces has the ability to minimize stress in children.
Social and emotional development. Unstructured time in nature can decrease anxiety and enhance social interactions in addition to building value for community.
Enhanced critical thinking skills. Children who have opportunities to learn outside develop problem-solving skills.
Utah’s Every Kid Outdoors Initiative supports what many of us already believe, that time outside is time well spent and is something every Utah child should have access to.
Alex Porpora is the Executive Director of the Utah Society for Environmental Education in Salt Lake City
