Your kids are the ultimate wellness tool – all the perks of playing outside with children

“Fresh air will do your children good,” they say. But should the child go out alone? If you play outside with them, you both benefit. Here are some good reasons for playing outdoors with your kids!

You move more

The WHO recommends from 150 to 300 minutes of exercise per week, corresponding to 30 to 60 minutes per day, five days per week. Many people do not achieve this moderately low measurement. So, how to reach the recommended goal? The solution is simple: You can easily and “playfully” increase your activity level and train your body by playing outdoors with your children. Wear a fitness tracker to document the efficiency of your workout, you will see the difference.

You use different types of muscles 

When you train regularly, practicing the same sport, you train invariably identical muscles. However, for more fitness, it’s helpful to work other muscles as well. Playing outside with your youngsters helps you automatically do that. In some cases, you may even feel it the next day when you get up!

You strengthen your immune system

During Fall or Winter, it could be difficult to find motivation for exercise in the fresh air. However, this is the optimal booster to strengthen your immune system: it naturally increases the number of cells in your body that fight against harmful germs.

You lower your cortisol levels

Cortisol is the stress hormone. High levels of it could send you signals to eat more high-calorie and high-fat foods that your body doesn’t need. The result: you put on unnecessary weight and belly fat, classified as particularly harmful to health. Exercise in the fresh air helps lower your cortisol level.

You increase productivity

We conduct a quite sedentary life, and the pandemic didn’t help in that sense. A sedentary lifestyle can affect not just the body but also performance levels. Getting out in the fresh air can cleverly increase your productivity. Studies indicate improved attention and performance when people focus on something green now and then. It’s relaxing for the eyes and your brain. Test yourself: By playing with the kids outside, you clear your head and have more energy for other tasks at work or home.

You boost creativity

It may seem surprising, but exercising outdoors not only makes you healthier and happier, but it also increases your creativity. Why? Playing with kids sparks your imagination. You make up adventurous stories together and see the world through different, more imaginative eyes.

You produce vitamin D

Vitamin D is not just a nutrient but rather the precursor to a hormone. Your body produces it with the help of sunlight. Experts recommend “taking” at least 10 to 30 minutes of sun every day so that your organism can produce sufficient vitamin D. This is important for your bones, your immune system, and your muscle strength.

It eases depressive mood

Do sadness and listlessness wear you out? Do you have no energy for activities? In those cases, it has particular importance to get out of your house and move. Your child’s beaming expression when you play together could be a great motivation. Once you’re moving, you’ll get a boost of happiness and energy.

You prevent and soothe winter depression

When the days get shorter and the temperatures become cooler, winter depression looms. That’s not a buzzword, but behind it is the diagnosis for a scientifically recognized seasonal affective disorder, or SAD for short. It results from a lack of light between November and February and is manifested by a weakened immune system, listlessness, and dejection. Playing with the children in the fresh air could be a good start for doing something good for your psyche. Psychologists and psychiatrists “prescribe” sports against depression: This makes playing outdoors with the little ones the best weapon against the stressful winter blues.

You intensify the relationship with your children

One of the most important reasons for playing outdoors with your kids is to strengthen your relationship. You intensify the parent-child bond, get to know each other even better, and grow stronger together. There’s no question about it: nature connects. Far from the pressure of deadlines and grades, you and your children have the chance to relax, opening up to a deeper connection.

Now get out into the fresh air with your children, take advantage of some free time and take them out to play. It doesn’t matter if it’s a nearby park, a football field, the garden in front of the house, or the great outdoors: Physical activity is good for you and your offspring in a great variety of ways. In addition to the benefits mentioned above, playing outside also helps you achieve your personal goal on your fitness tracker.

And you’ll collect countless steps for the Step Challenge, taking the chance to catapult you to the top of the leaderboard. At the same time, you’ll have a lot of fun and strengthen family ties.

Come on, put on your shoes and get out!

Your Humanoo Team