My mother has told me a lot of stories of how they use to play outside when they were kids. In those days kids were in the house only until the homework was done or it was night time, but otherwise you would always find groups of kids playing all sorts of games outside.
Unfortunately I did not have that full experience, but I did grow up in a house with a garden, situated in a quiet street, so we still could play outside and ride our bikes up and down the street under the watchful eyes of the adults.
These days it is first of all too dangerous to let your kids just wander the streets and in this technological day and age, a lot of kids are house bound and rarely or never play outside.
It is very important for you to set some time aside for your kid to enjoy the outdoors. There are a lot of benefits in doing this. Physically and emotionally.
Maybe you live in a small apartment with no garden and will have to take your child on a hike or to the park, but no matter where you must take them, in the end it will be worth the effort.
Meeting new friends
If you go to an area where there are some other kids playing, your child will have the chance to meet new friends. It will also build their self-esteem to walk up to strange kids and ask if they may join in kicking the ball or playing some cricket.
Leave your child for a while and give them the opportunity to decide for themselves with who they would like to play or which group they would like to join. First let them go and ask by themselves before you interfere.
Lets use that imagination of ours
If your child is playing outside he will have to use his imagination. There are not list of instructions or a video to watch before hand, so he will have to think out games. What is nicer that building a fort outside in the garden, or "camping" outside, or finding some fairies, or rescue the princess or play cowboys and crooks.
The possibilities are endless. Some kids will need a little help to get their imagination going. Do not map out the whole game for them with lots of rules, just throw out an idea and they must build on it from there using their own imagination and making up the game as they go along.
Stressed out? Lets go outside
Some kids will get very stressed by sitting inside the house the whole day or just doing schoolwork. No child can concentrate for hours on end. We all need a break - just a moment in which to breathe and think about nothing, especially not work.
If your child has an attention span problem, let them work for 5 or 10 minutes and if they have done that. they can take a break and play outside. That way the child will learn that if we do what we have to, we can do what we like to.
The fresh air and the moving around will get the blood flowing and heart pumping, which means it will not only relax them, but also get them ready to concentrate for a few minutes again.
The all important Vitamin D
Our bodies need Vitamin D in order to take up Calcium which in turn strengthens our bones and teeth. Children who has a deficit of Vitamin D can have soft bones and deformed legs.
Your body can produce Vitamin D from the areas of your skin being exposed to the sun. You have to spend at least 30 minutes every day in the sun - just remember your sunscreen and hat if the sun is very hot or you plan on staying outside for longer. You can give your kids supplements that contains Vitamin D, but being outside is a much better option.
Feeling like a child again and learning and exercising
Being outside reminds your child that he is free to have fun. There are no specific rules or regulations or times that must be met. It is fine to be silly and just enjoy yourself.
They also have the opportunity to learn more about nature. Have you ever watched ants and how interesting it is to see them work? Or just sat and watched the birds? Even though it is good to run around and get some exercise, it is also ok and necessary sometimes to be able to be quiet for a moment.
If your child is very active, this is also a good time to get rid of that extra stored energy and will also help with sleeping better.
You will maybe need to encourage your child to go outside more, not all children like it, but do not give up, at the end it is for their own benefit and fresh air and exercise have never hurt anybody.
Have a look at these wonderful ideas for outdoor games, so pack away the x-box and head outside https://za.pinterest.com/explore/outdoor-games/