I have read a number of articles recently that link increased outdoor activity to more focused, healthy, and attentive kids who get better grades. I think a large percentage of the families in our community would tend to agree that there is an intuitive logic to that statement, yet more and more time appears to be spent indoors. Here are a few links to some interesting articles that talk about this subject from different angles.General benefits to health and mental well-being:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/clarke/news/naturebenefits.htm
Better behavior due to 15 minutes of recess:
http://lifestyle.aol.ca/article/playing-outside-makes-kids-smarter/674509/
Natural light benefits to students:
http://www.parentdish.com/2008/09/11/natural-light-makes-kids-smarter/
Reversing indoor apathy and Nature Deficit Disorder:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/battling_nature.php
Improving test scores
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3748591
From the PA perspective, we have subsidized or paid fully some great outdoor programs for our students. I would like to see this continue and even increase if possible. It probably takes a lot of staff effort to organize outdoor activity and I know it definitely takes more money but from what I've read and from what seems reasonable - it would be effort and money well spent.
Side note: Use the comments section after this article to tell us your latest outdoor family activity.
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