The Benefits of Outdoor Play for Children 

We all remember the joyful feeling of learning to ride a bike; wind on our face, hair streaming behind us as we cruised down the sidewalk. Being outside is wonderful, but playing outside is even better, especially considering the benefits for children's development and well-being. 

Here are some of the benefits of outdoor play for kids:

1. Physical health: Outdoor play promotes physical activity and helps children develop gross motor skills, such as running, jumping, and climbing. It also encourages hand-eye coordination and balance, which are essential for overall physical health. Bike riding is an excellent way to encourage balance. 
2. Mental health: Spending time outside in nature can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in children. It helps improve their mood and enhances their self-esteem. Try encouraging a family bike ride and see the whole family enjoy a lift in mood! 
3. Social skills: Outdoor play provides opportunities for children to interact with others and develop social skills, such as sharing, communication, cooperation, and teamwork. While we all love to relax with screen time, seeing kids riding bikes together is just good plain fun. 
4. Creativity and imagination: Outdoor play stimulates creativity and imagination in children. They can create their own games, explore new environments, and develop their problem-solving skills. Want to encourage imagination on a bike? Ask your child to tell you if their bike could be any fantasy mode of transportation, what it would be. Mighty winged pegasus? Dinosaur excavator? Rocket ship made out of popsicles? The sky’s the limit! 
5. Cognitive development: Outdoor play promotes cognitive development in children. It enhances their attention span, memory, and cognitive flexibility. It also exposes them to new experiences and encourages their curiosity.
6. Exposure to nature: Outdoor play provides children with exposure to nature, which is essential for their overall development. It helps them develop an appreciation for the environment and a sense of responsibility towards it. Nurture your children’s awareness of your neighborhood by telling them about the type of environment (like desert, wetland, or meadow) you live in as you ride past. 
7. Confidence building: We know that hopping on a bike without training wheels can be an intimidating experience for kiddos but these are the safe types of risks our children learn to take at an early age in order to build confidence, self-esteem, and independence. 

Outdoor play is an essential part of children's development, and parents should encourage their children to spend time outside and engage in physical activity. Not sure where to start? Get on your bike, and ride!