If your child is almost ready for preschool, you might consider organizing playdates to help them get used to being around other children. However, your child will have a fantastic time and improve their health if they play outdoors instead of inside your home. Here are some advantages playing outside offers young children. 

Why Your Preschool-Aged Child Should Spend Time Outdoors

1. Improve Physical Health

When children go outside, they tend to play hard. That means they are more physically engaged outdoors than they are indoors. Your little one may move their body more due to playing in an open space with friends or spending time at a fun park that allows them to jump, run, and do other physical activities on play equipment. Because they move their bodies more, children who play outside are more likely to engage in plenty of exercises that reduce the risk of obesity, promote muscle growth, and strengthen bones. 

2. Get Plenty of Sunshine

When preschoolers play outdoors in the sun, they boost their internal supply of an essential vitamin. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps your body absorb phosphorus and calcium, which is necessary for bone growth and a healthy immune system. Additionally, exposure to sunlight improves the body's vitamin D supply. Playing outside on a sunny day can also improve your child's mood and encourage healthy sleep habits. 

3. Boost Executive Function

Executive function refers to the mental processes that promote several cognitive skills, including multitasking, focusing, negotiating, planning, and creativity. They're all essential for learning to solve problems and engage your imagination. As your child plays with other children in a yard or at a playground, they learn how to engage their executive function as they create games, entertain themselves, and figure things out among playmates.

If you're looking for a child care center for your preschool-aged child that encourages outdoor play, consider A Rising Star Children's Center in Cortlandt Manor, NY. For over 18 years, this respected and trusted learning center has been the go-to source for quality child care services, preschool programs, and after-school programs for children ages 5 to 12. With its award-winning curriculum, focused learning, and skilled teachers, this center is among the best places for young children to engage in age-appropriate recreational and educational activities. Request more information about their curriculum by calling (914) 862-4283 or visiting their website.