You should take full advantage of the beautiful San Francisco summers and play games with your kids outdoors. It doesn’t matter if it’s a sport that requires you to run around your outdoor space or a board game that you can play sitting on a table—as long as you and your family are having a good time.
The following are some health benefits of outdoor games.
Health Benefits of Outdoor Games
Better attention span
Research shows that exposing your kids to outdoor and greens spaces can help enhance their attention span, especially for children with ADHD (Attention Hyperactive Disorder)
Enhances Vitamin D
Researchers at the American Academy of Pediatrics say that vitamin D is vital for bone strength and diabetes prevention among kids. Sun is a natural source of vitamin D. Therefore, playing outdoors can help prevent health issues. Moreover, vitamin D is a potent mood lifter. Therefore, playing outdoors will allow your entire family to be happier and healthier.
Improves Vision
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, children who play outdoors can reduce the risk of developing nearsightedness (myopia)
Games You Can Play
Freeze Tag
If your kids are rambunctious, this game is perfect for your family. With a coin toss, you can select the ‘it’ player. The ‘it’ is responsible for running around and tagging other players. If the players are tagged, they get frozen. The frozen players can only run again if an unfrozen player tags them. If there is a family member who isn’t very mobile, they can be the cheerleaders. Freeze tag has been a family favorite for decades and continues to be so.
Tie-Dye
Tie-dye is one of the biggest fashion trends these days. You can set up an activity table and make your kids make their own tie-dye tank tops and colors with splashes of color. Keep in mind that this activity is messy. Therefore, ensure you steer clear of your patio furniture.
Sprinkler Dash
This game will be ideal in the scorching summer heat. Set the sprinkler in the middle of your patio. The challenge will be to run from one corner to the other without getting water on the clothes.
Get Shade with Patio Covers
Protecting the kids from the harmful sun rays will prevent sunburns. If you’re looking for a shading company, check out StruXure. We specialize in designing and installing patio shade structures in the Bay Area and Concord, California.
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