Imagine all the good things that would happen if kids ran around and played outside every day.
Today, the average child spends less than seven minutes a day outside in unstructured play (and three+ hours every day in front of some type of screen). As most of us can attest, that's a drastic decrease in outdoor time compared to when we were growing up.
According to Generation Wild, the benefits of playing outside every day are profound: stress and anxiety decrease, creativity and imagination grow, self-reliance flourishes, learning is heightened, physical fitness improves, immune systems get stronger and healthier, and ADHD symptoms are reduced.
Generation Wild is a movement created by Great Outdoors Colorado to "change an entire generation of kids by connecting them to the outdoor world". It began with a list of outdoor activities (100 Things to Do Before You're 12 in both English and Spanish), and has continued to add to their mission with their clever 20 Ideas List designed to get kids (and their parents/grandparents/caregivers) outside for at least 20 minutes a day.
With fun ideas like a color scavenger hunt, easy to make nature fossils, flashlight tag, and set up a toy carwash, the list's ideas provide benefits "as big at the outdoors".
Think kids should spend more than seven minutes a day playing outside? You're not alone. Hundreds or organizations around the state think that too. Check out Generation Wild's partners here. Prepare to be impressed.
If you or someone you know has kids that could benefit from being outdoors more, please share this amazing website with them. Even better, offer to be the one to take them outdoors for some much needed outdoor playtime using one of the many fantastic ideas on the Generation Wild website and library.
According to Generation Wild, the benefits of playing outside every day are profound: stress and anxiety decrease, creativity and imagination grow, self-reliance flourishes, learning is heightened, physical fitness improves, immune systems get stronger and healthier, and ADHD symptoms are reduced.
Generation Wild is a movement created by Great Outdoors Colorado to "change an entire generation of kids by connecting them to the outdoor world". It began with a list of outdoor activities (100 Things to Do Before You're 12 in both English and Spanish), and has continued to add to their mission with their clever 20 Ideas List designed to get kids (and their parents/grandparents/caregivers) outside for at least 20 minutes a day.
With fun ideas like a color scavenger hunt, easy to make nature fossils, flashlight tag, and set up a toy carwash, the list's ideas provide benefits "as big at the outdoors".
Think kids should spend more than seven minutes a day playing outside? You're not alone. Hundreds or organizations around the state think that too. Check out Generation Wild's partners here. Prepare to be impressed.
If you or someone you know has kids that could benefit from being outdoors more, please share this amazing website with them. Even better, offer to be the one to take them outdoors for some much needed outdoor playtime using one of the many fantastic ideas on the Generation Wild website and library.