With the rise in technology in recent decades, many families tend to spend more time indoors than they once did. Yet, it’s still crucial for little ones to get outside and explore their natural environment. Going outdoors with your children can deliver numerous benefits, which can support healthy development. As a leading preschool in Bristol, CT, Carrier Learning Center believes in encouraging supervised exploration. Here, they reveal the advantages of taking playtime outdoors.

The Top 5 Benefits of Getting Kids Outside, According to a Local Preschool

1. Foster Curiosity

Young minds are naturally curious about their surroundings. To cultivate a sense of curiosity, children must be exposed to different stimuli. Outside environments provide the perfect setting, as there’s always something new to observe.

2. Encourage Physical Activity

Avoiding a sedentary life is essential to promoting healthy physical development. Spending even just 40 minutes outside per day can help children maintain a healthy weight and achieve periods of physical activity to build strength, endurance, and flexibility.

3. Teach About the Environment

The key to preserving the planet lies in future generations. Bringing children outside encourages them to take an interest in the many natural life forms surrounding them. This can set the foundation for a lifelong, deep-rooted appreciation for the environment and avoidance of behaviors like littering.

4. Support Cognitive & Emotional Health

Getting outdoors doesn’t just provide physical benefits. It can also encourage children to solve problems, experiment, and exercise independent decision making. These activities are essential to cognitive and emotional health and can help support confidence in children.

5. Provide “Free Play” Opportunities

When children begin preschool, they enter into a daily routine. While structure is certainly beneficial for helping little ones develop discipline, it’s also crucial for them to exercise creativity through free play. With limitless opportunities to explore their natural surroundings, the outdoors satisfy children’s need to play freely.

If you’re seeking a preschool where children have ongoing opportunities to thrive through an engaging curriculum, look no further than Carrier Learning Center. Their programs encourage children to explore their surroundings, helping them to learn, grow, and prepare for the many exciting endeavors ahead. To learn more about enrollment, call the learning center at (860) 589-3000 or visit their website.