A recent study that worked with nearly 9,000 US children found that 49% of them don’t go outside to play.
This is true even after 93% of the moms said they considered their neighborhood safe. On the flip-side, 44% of moms and 24% of dads mentioned they take their children outside to walk at least once a day.
Shocked with the 49% stats? So are we.
Other highlights of the study are
- Children in daycare centers with playgrounds were less likely to go out
- Girls were less engaged in physical activities because parents did not take them outside to play as much compared to boys
Why should you take your kids outside to play?
Aside from FUN being a primary – and good – reason, Dr. Pooja Tandon, who conducted the study with her other colleagues, said that playing outdoors…
- Can help physical development (other research have shown this)
- May help improve motor skills
- Provides an opportunity for learning
- Allows children to soak-up vitamin D from the sun
- May help improve vision and mental health
In addition, another study found that physical activity can boost academic performance.
So now the question is:
Why do parents tend to keep their children indoors?
We’d like to hear YOUR thoughts on this so please leave a comment below. To get the conversation going, we’ll give a few reasons:
- Time. Parents may work long hours to support the family.
- Exhaustion. Parents may be too tired from the day’s demands to go out and watch their children play.
- Danger. A parent’s worst fear is to lose their children to either accidents or ill-intentioned folks.
- Social support (or lack of it). Another study which looked into why moms don’t let children play outside has found that the perception of having shared values with the neighborhood is important.
If moms think the community has the same goals as they do, they are more likely to send their kids outside to play.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering about how British kids are doing, TreeHugger.com says that 25% of the 500 kids who took part in the survey didn’t play outdoors.
Now it’s YOUR turn. Why don’t parents send their children outdoors much?
About Anne Mercado
Wow this is an interesting post. My kids are always outside, since I homeschool my 5 and 8 year olds after homeschool and lunch they are headed outside for some fresh air and to relieve the tension of sitting at the table for 2 hours. We live on a cul de sac but in the beginning of it, they know to watch cars and to not go past a certain tree, we also have a long driveway so they are usually there anyway riding there bikes. We also have an acre in the backyard with a jungle gym and trees so they get plenty of exercise there to. On rainy days or really hot days I will let them play the wii or there psp, but that is after there homeschool is done and there rooms are tidy.
I think that its not a saftey issue for some parents, its a convenience of not having to watch there kids outside, so the kids are cooped up in there rooms or playing video games or on the computer. Very sad!
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Wow it sounds like a lot of fun to be in your home! Unfortunately not everyone has a backyard or a safe neighborhood to play in which may count for the decreased outdoor activity. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Pamela.
I think parents don’t let their kids play outside because of fear. Fear for strangers who might take them, fear they might get into an accident and fear they might get hurt. I know this, because I fear all these things.
But I suppress them, because I know the importance of outside playing, and I know these are my personal issues…
Purse crazy
Twitter: momfever
You are brave for supressing your fears. But all those things you fear, a lot of parents do too.
I always try to take my boys out when it’s nice outside – and even when it was chilly I wrapped them up really warm. Unfortunately it looks like my twins inherited my fair skin so they need to be really careful on the sun.
Off for our morning walk right now…
Leigh
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Twitter: Twinfun1n1
Hope you could post pictures of them all wrapped in warm clothing, they’d look adorable! Have a wonderdul walk!
We recently moved into a home that is right across the street from a junior high. Our house overlooks the field though, a lush green one. Within walking distance, a very short one we have 2 parks and a lake. We loved this spot for this very reason. Sadly our home doesn’t have a playable backyard(if you saw my post “Oh the muck” that’s our backyard. hehe), which I’m learning is a downfall. BUT with all the parks and such so close our boys get to be outside. I, myself, am not one to go outside with them much, but my husband is pretty good with this. And when I visit my mom (about a 5 min drive) we hang out in the backyard there. When the kids are older, I’ll encourage out door play. I loved it growing up in the Colorado Rockies. And my oldest LOVES the outdoors.
haha this is turning into a very long “comment”.. I can totally understand not wanting kids outside to play in big cities and such. We do live in a small town. If you lack the backyard, are in a not to safe neighborhood, and you aren’t in the mood to go outside all the time, I can totally understand not taking the kids out.
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I love and appreciate your comments, whatever length they are.
Even if you don’t have a playable backyard now, at least there are other great outdoor places nearby. And I know what you mean by growing up with trees. It was the same with me and I always enjoyed being surrounded by nature.
The main reason for us not to go out is bad weather. We live in a small city in the dowtown area (no backyard as we live in a building) but there different public parks around here so we try go out everyday as much as we can even if it’s just for an hour.
Spanish Pinay
Twitter: Spanish_Pinay
How bad is the weather there?
I know this from our community here. There are 4 towers with a clubhouse in the middle section of the property where kids can swim or play. However, not all parents with younger kids allow their children to go down. I was even surprised when Halloween came last year cos the kids doubled. I figured that most of those new faces do not play outdoors on a regular basis!
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Twitter: mrskolca
I suppose parents would be willing to let their kids play outside more if there was a nanny to watch over the kiddos. But it’s a bit sad, no? Most of us grew up playing under the sun and the kids now don’t seem to be doing that.
I would love to take my child for an outdoor activity but the problem is I am engaged with too much online work at home this summer. I just let him play inside the house with educational toys and let him watch educational videos as well. My husband and I usually take him for outdoor games once a week.
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I know what you mean with too much work. Well we don’t have a backyard but the place where my son studies Kumon does. So after his bi-weekly classes I make it a point to hang out with him under the (very) hot sun. There’s a small playground which he loves.
This is totally true! In the middle of winter, I am horrible at taking my kids out to play. We go in the backyard a fair bit but I choose not to tackle the icy streets and the slush. But now the weather’s warmer, I am planning on taking them to the park more often.
Twitter: 1EpicMom
Weather may be a big consideration when sending kids outdoors to play. If it’s way too cold or dangerous (because of the icy streets) then it’s best to keep them in. Thanks for your comment, Char.
there are days we don’t go outside, but everyone, including me, is much happier when we do venture out!
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Twitter: ktorrejon
There are studies that have found sunlight to uplift moods so it makes sense that we smile more when we venture out.
I definitely do not let my son play outside alone. It is pretty much a rule that one of us has to be out there with him. That being said – a lot of outdoor time was missed simply because there were things I needed to do inside. Thankfully he has a friend two doors down from us now. They are both seven and we are comfortable letting our kids go back and forth. Even though its only two doors down they walk each other halfway home
Twitter: sporadictweets
That’s real smart Kenya. Thank goodness your son has a friend who lives nearby. Peace of mind is the best.
We are thankful that we live in a part of the country that has warm weather for most of the year. It is an odd day where my kids don’t get outside for at least a little bit. Even when it rains, they are begging to put on their boots, grab their umbrellas and go look for worms. It’s not always as much fun for me, but they learn so much. They are still a bit too young to be left unsupervised in our backyard for very long (it’s fenced, but they are just 4 and 2), but I can run in and get dinner going if I have to. I’m not sure how I’d handle it if we lived somewhere with a cold winter–even though I grew up in the midwest! We always went out to play, even in the cold and snow.
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Twitter: crazedkitchen
It’s cute how they plead with you to go outside. And you’re right when you say they learn a lot because simply observing nature can teach you a lot. It was nice to read what you shared, so thanks for dropping by.
exhaustion. i’m too busy with household chores and i have no more energy to take my son outside. he is too handful and i can’t chase him. This is my husband role so no doubt that my son is daddy’s boy because they have their own bonding.
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Hi Michi, completely understand when parents say they are exhausted. It’s great though that your husband can take him out.
I dont go outside with my 5 year old as much as i would like because we don’t really have a yard. we’d have to walk to a park or something. but i do try to get him outside at least on the weekends
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Twitter: sano2pop
Hi Raine, we don’t have a yard too! And it’s great that you try to get your kiddo outdoors on weekends to make-up for it. Thanks from dropping by and hope to see you more here.
Our backyard is not fenced in and we have an alley way on one side where cars frequently drive through and on the other side is a funeral home driveway where there isn’t always traffic, but at least once or twice a day a car drives through it and you don’t see it until it’s right in front of you. Our backyard is lined with giant trees that act as a fence of sorts, but it doesn’t keep the girls contained safely unless I’m outside with them supervising. When I’m in the kitchen preparing dinner, and the weather is nice, I’ll pop open the kitchen window so I can hear the girls and see them and let them play in the yard until dinner’s ready. But mostly, when we go outside to play, we are traveling to a playground in town, a friend’s house, or swimming at a nearby lake. During the summer we tend to be outdoors quite a bit, but during the school year not as much because of needing to be close to home to get my oldest off the bus when school is out. I’m a big believer in outdoor playtime though. Always have been. My motto is a dirty child is one who played hard and will sleep well.
Twitter: ChrstianSuprMom
It’s nice that you have a lake nearby you can go to!! We don’t have that here. I also like what you said about the dirty child. Couldn’t agree more that they sleep well since their exhausted from the physical activity.