Children are curious, adventurous, and energetic, particularly at a young age--so use that to their advantage. Give them the chance to blow off some steam while also promoting important physical skills!

Providing opportunities for outdoor activity furthers physical growth and helps maintain appropriate weight while promoting cognitive, exploratory, and social development. Outdoor activity is an important part of health promotion, so schedule time for daily outdoor play. Knowing how to help children obtain the most from their outdoor experiences can help them burn off energy and stay fit.

Exercise is an essential component of health promotion. Just 30 minutes of physical activity a day will have a long-term impact on a child’s physical and emotional well-being. Children who get regular exercise are better able to focus on tasks and challenges presented to them and are less likely to be overweight or have weight-related issues.

Exercise is important in its own right, but being outdoors offers additional benefits. Fresh air, exposures to the wonders of nature, and the opportunity to run freely are all important for children as they play, explore, imagine, and enjoy childhood!

Outdoor activities do not have to be complex. Encourage children to run around in a game of tag, chase butterflies, climb on play equipment, or play with balls. By engaging children in a variety of activities, you help develop their muscle groups and enhance their gross motor skills.

Infants also benefit from time outdoors. Pushing them in a stroller or infant swing is beneficial; however, infants also should have activities that promote gross motor skill development, such as crawling on a clean sheet placed on the ground.

Children need freedom to explore and expend energy; however, the activities and the environment must be safe and age-appropriate. The outdoor play environment may be an elaborate playground, the backyard of a family childcare setting, or a community park.

To help promote a valuable and safe outdoor experience for children, consider safety questions such as these:

• Are you in a safe area, free of vehicle traffic, noise, and pollution?
• Is the area fenced or otherwise protected by barriers?
• Can children travel to and from the play area safely, without exposure to traffic or other hazards?
• Is the play area large enough for adequate activity and exploration?
• Can you visually supervise every child at all times?
• Is the area free of debris, tripping hazards, and other hazardous items?
• Does the play area feature sufficient protection from wind, sun and other weather-related elements?

All play equipment and surfacing should meet the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Guidelines for Public Playground Safety. While these standards are not designed for home playground equipment, the guidance is useful for both home and public play equipment and surfacing.

Specifics such as height of equipment, spacing, and surfacing, are applicable to all play areas. The National Program for Playground Safety offers information for caregivers and parents. Also, consider having your play area inspected by an individual certified through the National Playground Safety Institute.

When children are outdoors, they require “active supervision,” meaning that the adult is actively engaged in their activities. Caregivers must be able to visually supervise every child at all times. The staff:child ratio must be the same as required for indoor activities.

Consider the weather before heading outdoors, and keep the following issues in mind.

• Cold weather. When going outside in cold weather, each child should have a coat, gloves, hat, and other warm apparel. Caring for Our Children National Health and Safety Performance Standards: Guidelines for Out-of-Home Child Care Programs recommends that children not play outdoors when the wind chill is below 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Heat index. “Heat index” refers to the combined measurement of temperature and humidity. Check your local weather report, and if the heat index is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, children should not play outdoors.
• Air quality index. This indicator addresses the level of pollution in the air. Children should not play outdoors when the local air quality index is poor or “unhealthy.”
• Sun safety. Warding off ultraviolet rays is important every day, all year round, in all geographic areas. If possible, schedule playtime to avoid the peak sun hours. Provide adequate shade, encourage the use of protective garments (hats, sunglasses, and cover-up clothing), and consider application of sunscreen.
• Hydration. Make sure that everyone stays hydrated, particularly in hot weather. Children often do not notice if they are too hot or thirsty, so offer water often and watch for signs of heat distress.

Plan ahead and encourage parents to dress their children appropriately for outdoor play. Suggest comfortable clothing that can get dirty and closed shoes that will not slip off or cause tripping; no sandals or flip-flops.

Provide layers that can be removed because children will get warm as they run and move about. Avoid drawstrings on clothing, necklaces, hoop earrings, or other accessories that could catch on equipment and cause injury.

By providing a safe and stimulating environment in which children can be active and explore, you help stimulate development, ward off weight issues, and promote healthy exercise habits.

Outdoor time is fun for young children! Outdoor play does not have to be organized, although it does need to be supervised. Running, jumping, swinging, bouncing, hopping, and more are all activities that children love to do. Safe outdoor play has many rewards and can be a fun--and fitness filled--part of the day for young children.

Diona L. Reeves, Consultant, American Academy of Pediatrics, Early Child Care & Education Initiatives

Caring for Our Children, nrc.uchsc.edu/CFOC/index.html

National Playground Safety Institute, www.nrpa.org/content/default.aspx?documentId=5129

Sun-Safe Child Care Project, sunsafetyalliance.org

U.S. CPSC Playground Safety Guidelines, www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/325.pdf

National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS), University of Northern Iowa, School for Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services, Cedar Falls, IA 50614; 800-554-PLAY; www.playgroundsafety.org

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 E. West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; 800-638-2772; www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/playpubs.html