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Family Ties: Family Fun in the Sun – Outdoor Activities for Health & Happiness
By Michelle Vessel
What do Hawaii, Florida, Arizona and Louisiana have in common? Aside from temperate climates and a cultural appreciation of the great outdoors, these states share another characteristic–they’re home to the happiest people in the United States. According to a four-year study conducted by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, residents of states that boast plenty of sunshine consistently describe themselves as happier and more satisfied with life than those who make their homes in colder, gloomier climates. It’s not just adults that are reaping the benefits of the sun’s powerful rays either. Our children are too, and with mounting evidence that exposure to the outdoors and sunshine are an important part of our overall health and wellness, we’ve plenty of reasons to get the whole family outside to soak up some of nature’s very own miracle drug.
A Natural Fit for Kids
For as long as humans have been seeking indoor shelter from the elements, little ones have been clamoring to play outside, with reasons that go well beyond fun and games. In addition to bolstering the production of vitamin D, which is essential to overall health, research also suggests that spending time outdoors in the sunshine has positive effects on the psyche.
Doctors have prescribed short periods of sun exposure to patients suffering from depression, anxiety, Seasonal Affective Disorder and other mental health problems for decades. Sunshine, it seems, stimulates the secretion of serotonin, the ‘feel-good’ hormone that affects mood, emotion and sleep. As a result, a daily dose of sunshine has the power to decrease depression, boost happiness and increase overall well-being in people of all ages. For children, in particular, the trickle down effects of this response include decreased stress levels, better impulse control and more developed coping mechanisms. As Frances Kuo, a scientist at the Landscape and Human Health Laboratory at the University of Illinois, puts it, outdoor play brings about a sense of “gentle absorption; almost a meditative quality” that is “deeply rejuvenating” for children.
What’s more, outdoor play is an important tool in the fight against the childhood obesity epidemic. Although children can and do play energetically indoors, the range of motion and level of exertion that kids can achieve in, say, the living room is limited in comparison with the neighborhood playground. That’s why advocacy groups and organizations ranging from the National Wildlife Federation to the Surgeon General have suggested the goal of the “green hour,” encouraging families to strive for up to an hour of unstructured outdoor playtime each day.
Bright Sunshiny Days
Ready to boost your family’s wellness with a healthy dose of outdoor fun? The old rules of carefully limiting sun exposure still apply, but you can bend them a little, according to Boston University’s Dr. Michael F. Holick, M.D. For most teenagers and adults, a stint of 10 to 15 minutes of outdoor time each day, sans sunscreen, can be enough to enjoy optimal health benefits without putting your skin at risk of sun damage. For younger kids and toddlers, even five to ten minutes may be enough to do the trick. After that, slather on the sunscreen and don protective hats and other gear while enjoying a variety of fun and educational activities.
- Get crafty. Use the sun’s rays to create one-of-a-kind crafts with photosensitive paper (available under the brand name Sunprint for less than $10 from online retailers such as www.onlinesciencemall.com).
- Enjoy the bounty of the sun. Dig a small, kid-friendly garden plot in your backyard, or take the family to a pick-your-own orchard or farm. Gilcrease Orchards (7800 N. Tenaya; 409-0655) is an excellent local resource offering year-round family events.
- Go fly a kite. Kids of all ages will thrill at the sight of their favorite animal or cartoon character swirling high in the sky. This is a great outdoor activity for the windy springtime.
- Organize a water balloon fight. Assign the neighborhood kids to two or more teams, lay down some ground rules to make sure no one gets hurt and go to town.
- Spot some feathered friends. Bird-watching is a great outdoor activity that even the tiniest tots can get into. Keep it interesting and educational by tracking birds family members have spotted in a journal. The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve (350 E. Galleria Dr.; 267-4180) and the Wetlands Nature Preserve (7050 Wetlands Park Ln.; 455-7522) are great sites for this activity.
- Host a colorful critter. Catching a ladybug or firefly and keeping them in a jar with air holes overnight should be a summertime rite of passage for kids.
- Jump around. Old favorites like hopscotch and jump rope never lose their fun. Plus, they’re great forms of exercise that parents can benefit from just as much as the kids.
- The sky’s the limit. For a special treat, take your family on a hot air balloon ride. Check www.hotairballooning.com to find a service in your area.
Don’t fear the sun’s rays; bask in them. In small doses, this miraculous source of light can be a boon to your family’s health and well-being.
