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  2. Engaging Families
  3. Nutrition & Fitness
  4. Benefits of Outdoor Play

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Nutrition & Fitness

  • Benefits of Outdoor Play
  • Physical Activity
  • Preventing Obesity
  • TV & Limiting Screen Time

Benefits of Outdoor Play

Wonders of Nature & Child Well-Being

Being in the great outdoors supports child health in many ways beyond the obvious benefit of getting exercise. Did you know that helping children take advantage of outdoor time can help with mood, sleep, and overall wellbeing? These resources will help parents understand the benefits of outdoor activity as well as indoor physical activity when weather conditions may not permit outdoor play.

Parent Resources & Tip Sheets

  • 6 Reasons Children Need to Play Outside
  • Playing Outside: Why It's Important for Children (English) (Spanish)
  • Nemours Kids Health - Kids and Exercise (English) (Spanish)
  • Family Physical Activity Fact Sheet

Family Activities

  • Generation Wild - 20 Ideas for 20 Minutes Outside
  • Generation Wild - Kids Reading List - Suggested books on outdoor topics
  • Outdoor Recreation Printable Bingo
  • Plants, Trees and Wildlife Coloring Sheets
    • Alphabet Book (companion to Coloring Sheets)
    • Glacier Wildlife Coloring Book
  • Connecting Kids to Nature: Make Your Own Animal Ears
    • (English)  (Spanish)
  • Children's Nature Network Activity Cards

Interested in a Big Adventure?

  • Plan a National Park visit

 

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