Most parents recognize the importance of outdoor play time for older kids. Kids who play outside, on average, have better moods, longer attention spans and healthier bodies than kids who spend most of their time indoors. The best way to keep your toddler from turning into a screen-addicted preteen is to introduce him to outdoor play as early and as often as possible. By setting him up for a good start, you ensure that your toddler will have the foundation for a lifelong love of the outdoors.
However, there are major safety considerations to take into account for your toddler. While preteens and older kids can play outdoors with little supervision, a toddler can get injured or harmed easily if he plays outdoors. These tips can help you keep your toddler safe during outdoor play time.
1. Supervise. A toddler or preschooler, no matter how bright, simply does not have the understanding necessary to play outside safely by himself. Your toddler needs constant supervision when she is playing outdoors. This supervision can come either from you, another caregiver, or a mature older playmate who you can trust to alert you of any dangers. Supervision is especially important if your toddler is playing outside in an area with a high traffic volume. Far too many children have been hurt by moving vehicles during outdoor play.
2. Provide a safe environment. The best way to teach your toddler to love the outdoors is to provide a safe, healthy and interactive environment where she can stretch her legs and her imagination. If this isn’t available in your own yard, take the games elsewhere. A playground, park, wildlife sanctuary or public green-space can give your child the environment she needs to safely enjoy outdoor play.
3. Give her a task. Your toddler may not yet know how to initiate a full day of outdoor play time, so you can give her a few starters to kick off the day. Give her a simple task, such as “find me a gray rock,” or “find a yellow flower.” She will enjoy going on a simple outdoor scavenger hunt, and the tasks can help to safely occupy her while she is outdoors.
4. Teach and learn. Your toddler’s vocabulary expands every single day, as does her understanding of the wild world around her. Use outdoor play as an opportunity to expand your child’s knowledge. Does she know a pine tree from a willow? Can you teach her about the seasons? Show her a few insects and explain their names. Talk about seasons. Show that pine cones come from pine trees, that sweetgum balls come from “star-trees,” and that oak trees yield acorns. She will love this valuable opportunity for hands-on learning.
5. Protect your toddler from the elements. There’s no reason that your toddler can’t play outdoors year-round. Think back to your own childhood. Do you remember playing in the rain and snow? Lying on a hot lawn in the summer as clouds drifted by? These experiences are important, even in early childhood. Simply use common sense to protect your toddler from the elements of nature. Use sunscreen in the summer, mittens in the winter, and rain coats and galoshes in rainy days.
6. Watch for hazards. Your toddler is at risk of experiencing injuries outdoors, so make sure that you watch for specific toddler-relevant safety hazards. Don’t let her put pebbles or other small objects into her mouth. Don’t let her eat any wild plants unless you have positively identified them as edible. Also keep an eye out for stinging insects, thorny plants and pooled water. By identifying these hazards before your toddler reaches them, you can ensure that they will not pose a significant threat to your outdoorsy child.
7. Use your time wisely. One thing that keeps toddlers indoors is that, all too often, their mothers are busy accomplishing indoor tasks. Why interrupt a busy day by taking three hours to watch your toddler play outside? You can actually make good use of your time by taking your own projects outside. Bring your laptop, book or telephone outside. Use the time to call up a friend or catch up on work. By re-thinking your own location, you can easily supervise your toddler while accomplishing other important tasks.
