This conversation of how active lifestyles make happy kids is sponsored by Genius of Play, a website dedicated to showing how play is essential for the growth and development of kids.
Growing up I remember going to play outside all the time. I didn’t have the video games, iPads, and a million other electronic devices that are so easily accessible to kids of this generation. My brother and I just went outside, played with the neighborhood friends, and made so many memories. In many ways this advancement of technology has lead us to be lazy. Will your child really make lasing memories of that video game where they beat a high score? Or would interacting with other people and yourself create a memory that has so much more meaning? We are increasingly becoming like the movie Wall-E where robots and tech do everything for us. I can see it in my own kids some days when they just veg out in front of the tv or tablet and it turns them into these grumpy little boogers. But on the days when they get out and play I see a whole different side of them. Active lifestyles make happy kids and adults.
Both of my kids are signed up for soccer and we even just let my son do basketball in the off season. They love to get out there with friends and run and play. they grow as a community learning to work together to accomplish a goal. They are able to stretch their legs and use them to their full potential. When they come off that soccer field, I see the joy that comes from playing with others. When they get out and play they are happy kids. Tired but happy.
I can see it in my own self since I have stopped running and being active as much, that my body aches more and I just don’t have the energy that I would like to have. My kids have inspired me to get up, stop just sitting behind the computer all the time and work on getting myself strong again. Seeing them being active and happy, has helped me come to realize that I want that feeling back too.
Do you often feel uninspired of what to play with your kids or ideas for them to play on their own? Genius of Play is a website that is geared towards helping you, help your kids get out and play. They even have a whole page dedicated to ideas based on age of games to play and activities to help get the whole family active. I think we may have to try a few out like: housework hustle, water balloon toss, and ice painting. I love that they also help us as parents know the benefits of play.
Here are the 6 benefits of play:
- Physical
- Emotional
- Social
- Cognitive
- Creative
- Communication
Something as simple as having your kids do activities like soccer can more than teach them how to play the game. It teaches them how to work with others. It teaches them strategy. IT also can teach them how to deal with loss and the emotions that can come with it. Genius of Play is a great resource for adults to help expand our minds as well as what we can be doing with our own kids to expand their minds, bodies, and emotions on so many levels just by getting out and playing.
Encourage your kids to get out and play. Active lifestyles make happy kids and adults as well. We often forget as adults that even we need to be active and social. What will you do help your kids get out and play today?
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