Let the Outdoors Inspire our Kids!
There is so much for your kids to do at the Tamar Trails :
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Ride a bike to explore the trails – or hire one from us
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Have a picnic
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Grab a free activity sheet from reception to make a ‘Journey Stick’ or many other activities
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Build a den in the woods
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Discover bug hotels and tiny worlds of insects in log piles
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Take a bag to collect pine cones or other treasures
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Book an activity with Tree Surfers all these activities are 6 years upwards – Tree Surfers Junior, The Big Zip and Archery
Getting your kids into the outdoors, to play, to discover and explore is more important than ever. Outdoor games such as den-building and hide-and-seek seem to belong to a bygone era, having been ousted from children’s affections by tablets, games consoles and smartphones. Being outside even for 10 minutes a day is likely to increase a children’s level of physical activity and alertness as well as improving their general well-being. Here are some of our top reasons why its great for children to be outside:
1. Kids just love it
OK that’s a given, but let’s looks at the more compelling reasons….
2. Being outside reduced stress
There have been many studies over the years that shows that spending time in nature reduces cortisol levels, lowers blood pressure, increases resilience, and supports cognitive function. And climbing trees is a great way to help kids engage in an outside activity that is fun and challenging.
3. Climbing Trees is Good for Physical Development
Learning how to navigate and climb a tree helps to develop hand/eye coordination and muscle strength.
4. Learn their strength and limitations
By challenging themselves physically, children learn their own strengths and weaknesses. It’s important for children to experience pushing themselves and knowing when they need to take a step back and re-address a situation. They are learning to assess their own safety, a valuable lesson in life.
In the not too distant future the art of climbing trees could be lost, just think back to when you were a kid – I bet you climbed trees all day long! Now we have children who are more interested in tablets, phones and computer games. We need to let kids challenge themselves and get to know the great outdoors.
The National Trust published a survey saying that the decline in this generation playing outdoors is overwhelming.
It revealed some rather frightening statistics:
1. Fewer than ten per cent of kids play in wild places; down from 50 per cent a generation ago
2. The roaming radius for kids has declined by 90 per cent in one generation (within thirty years)!
3. Three times as many children are taken to hospital each year after falling out of bed, as from falling out of trees!
A 2008 study showed that half of all kids had been stopped from climbing trees, 20 per cent had been banned from playing conkers or games of tag. (National Trust: March 2013)
This is crazy, we need to let our children live and learn, achieve things they never thought possible
AND surprise themselves.
We say….let them leap, glide and soar through the trees!
There is so much for kids to do at the Tamar Trails…
If you want to know more about kids playing outside take a look at The Wild Network who “exists to champion and support connections with nature and wildness in children and young people.Our mission is to support children, parents and guardians to roam free, play wild and connect with nature”
