I don’t know about you but come Fall/Winter Mac and I get “Cabin Fever”! We just become stir crazy and need to get out! I was sure others suffer from the same things and thought to myself how many kids now a days do actually go outside? Think about videos games, computers and TV. Is playing outside even “cool” anymore? So I took to the internet, Ha, and found some interesting statistics I thought I would share with you. ” 64% of kids today play outside less than once a week, or were one of the 28% who haven’t been on a country walk in the last year! Then I read: 21% who’ve never been to a farm and the 20% who have never once climbed a tree. These are some of my favorite memories as a child growing up with my brother. I can'[t even believe what children have NOT experienced now a days. Just mind boggling. So, we bundled Mac up and we headed outside to a ready made pile of leaves! Although now the ground is completely covered with snow, EEK!
“Unstructured play in the outdoors helps with problem-solving skills, focus and self-discipline. Socially, it improves cooperation, flexibility, and self-awareness. Emotional benefits include reduced aggression and increased happiness”. Which I have to say after also jumping into the leaves I started to feel flexible and full of energy and excitement too. It was FUN to laugh and just well PLAY!
Leaves are cheap, free and oh so much Fun! “Children will be smarter, better able to get along with others, healthier and happier when they have regular opportunities for free and unstructured play in the out-of-doors,” concluded one authoritative study published by the American Medical Association in 2005. I don’t know about you but I would like a smart well rounded kid.
I encourage you, even after a long day at work, to let your children out and play. If you are feeling extra spunky why not join? All of the positives children gain from outdoor play you can as well! I sure feel more freed and less stressed after a good outdoor activity.
Only thing I will say is, you will be picking leaves out of your hair.
Unless of course you don’t have long hair like me or you are smart and wear a hat.
I saw this on a creative site (maybe Pinterest) and though hey that looks so cute.
♥~Here is Mclachlan at age 4~♥
I love the four he made! So fun! We did this recently in our backyard. Its all raked up now! Thankfully! It was a lot of hard work!
There is nothing like the fun of playing in leaves. I agree with you, it's a shame that most kids now don't experience the joy of playing outside. I'm from the OLD days where after school homework was done (which not often because in elementary school there was no homework) we played outside with friends, didn't have cell phones, drank from the water house, rode bikes with no helmets, roller skates with no helmets or knee pads and we STILL survived! I'm glad you see the importance and took fast action to let your son have some fun!
I use to love jumping in the leaves, my daughter now enjoys it