It’s time to Take a Child Outside!
For immediate release ‐ September 24, 2021
Contact: Jon Pishney, 919.707.8083. Images available upon request
Let’s get outside!
Have you felt the temperatures across North Carolina dropping or noticed the passing of the Autumnal Equinox? Both of these let me know that it’s time for Take A Child Outside Week, September 24 through 30, so think about great outdoor activities. Stumped? The Museum has dozens of excellent activities for you to do outdoors with your kids!
Fresh perspectives from a mom
Parenting and caring for children right now is hard. There doesn’t ever seem to be enough time in the day to take care of everything that needs to happen. But the last year and a half have reminded me that spending time outside with children is worthwhile for everyone.
Going outside, often in our yard or walking around our block, has proven to be a place of solace for my entire family. Stepping away from electronics and to-do lists then focusing on our surroundings and each other helps slow everything down and remind us of the wonders happening around us every day.
How the outdoors is beneficial
If you haven’t already read about the benefits of children spending time outside, here are a few links to get you started:
- Infants who spend time outside in the afternoon generally sleep better at night. What parent doesn’t need that? Article: “The relationship between daytime exposure to light and night-time sleep in 6-12-week old infants.”
- Experiences are more beneficial for forming relationships than material objects (new toys), with nearby experiences being as beneficial as big trips. Article: “There’s a science to gift giving.”
- An overview of how outdoor experiences are beneficial for children’s health from the Children and Nature Network includes benefits to vision, vitamin D levels, birth weight, reduced risk of obesity and improved relationship skills. Infographic: “Nature Can Improve Health and Wellbeing.” (PDF)
We encourage caregivers to “Take a Child Outside Every Day,” or at least to “Take a Child Outside Once a Week.” The NC Museum of Natural Sciences chooses to celebrate September 24-30 annually, as a time to “Take a Child Outside,” to raise awareness and inspire adults to take the children in their lives outdoors. By encouraging outdoor time for one week, we hope to give adults ideas, resources and support to initiate ongoing outdoor experiences.
I’ll be extending the Museum’s support by sharing my experiences and ideas as well as answering your questions year-round. Feel free to contact me with your concerns and questions via beth.cranford@naturalsciences.org.
Your partner in getting kids outside,
Beth Cranford
Coordinator for Family Programming
For more information about our upcoming activities, conservation news and ground-breaking research, follow @NaturalSciences on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Join the conversation with #visitNCMNS.