Interested in this spot? shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com June 25, 2019 • Page 11 INTERESTED IN THIS SPOT? 5 Reasons Kids Should Play Outside More Call 665-5884 to place your ad here. www.missourivalleyshopper.com Call 665-5884 to place your ad here. Interested in this spot? (StatePoint) Whether it’s dance lessons, computer projects, art class or yoga, kids these days are busy bees. And while such activities are enriching and fun, experts say that many kids aren’t spending enough time doing something much simpler and every bit as important as structured programming: playing outdoors. “Finding time for the kids to play outside can be such a challenge for parents,” says Keri Wilmot, a pediatric occupational therapist and an expert contributor to TheGeniusofPlay.org. “As a parent I worry about ‘stranger danger’ or whether my kids will be able to navigate social issues on their own. Without spontaneity, playtime has lost some of it’s fun.” Outdoor play is necessary for healthy child development, according to The Genius of Play. The initiative, whose mission is to raise awareness about the importance of play and help parents make665-5884 part of Call play a critical to raising their kids, is sharing five benplace your ad here. Call 665-5884 to place your ad here. Interested in this spot? www.missourivalleyshopper.com www.missourivalleyshopper.com direcplayed outdoors can help build social skills and teach kids to follow efits of unstructured outdoor playtime: • Physical Development: Research has shown that physically active kids tend to be leaner and healthier, while an inactive childhood can lead to a sedentary (and likely unhealthy) lifestyle in adulthood. Furthermore, physical play builds gross and fine motor skills necessary for success in school and beyond. Hanging from the monkey bars, for instance, helps kids develop the hand muscles needed to grip a pencil. • Risk-Taking: Through outdoor play, children are given the opportunity to step outside their comfort zones and try new things. While taking risks won’t always lead to success on the first try, moments like a first bike ride without training wheels, or the first trip down the big slide in the playground, are critical for building the confidence and resilience needed to pursue a future career, start a business, or handle life’s many challenges. • Social Skills: Childhood games tions. From games as simple as tag, to those with more complicated rules, like “Kick the Can,” “Capture the Flag,” and sports like soccer and basketball, communication, teamwork and other important social skills are developed during outdoor play. • Problem Solving: Children’s imaginations are often stimulated by the world around them. Being outside widens their horizons and can encourage kids to tap into their creativity in order to come up with solutions to challenges, such as learning how to build a sandcastle or figuring out how to climb up a jungle gym. • Reducing Stress: So much outdoor play involves physical activity, thrilling moments and a sense of freedom, all of which can boost endorphins, helping to lower stress levels and reduce anxiety and depression. Interestingly, simply touching dirt when creating mud pies or digging for worms can be beneficial. www.missourivalleyshopper.com Visit our Web site at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Visit our Web site at According to a Bristol University study, www.missourivalleyshopper.com certain types of “friendly” bacteria in soil have been found to activate the group of neurons that produce serotonin, which contributes to a feeling of well-being and happiness. So, don’t be afraid to let your kids get a bit dirty out there! Visit our For play ideas, expert advice and Web site at other play resources, visit TheGeniusOfPlay.org. www.missourivalleyshopper.com Playtime is essential for children. To promote health, happiness and confidence, be sure some of it is spent outdoors. Visit our Web site at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Team to Receive Best Paper FAX IT 605-665-5882 Award during Conference Shopper YOU NEED IT TODAY? NO PROBLEM! Missouri Valley 216 W. 4th St. • YANKTON,SD 605-665-5884 BROOKINGS, S.D. - SDSU Extenison Gerontology TeachSD Toolkit. This shortened the training period and Consumer Sciences Research Journal Field Specialist, Leacey E. Brown and Jane Strommen, from half a day to 1 hour and 45 minutes. Instead of The Family and Consumer Sciences Research a Gerontology Specialist in the Department of Human recruiting and training volunteers, Brown made the Journal publishes original research in all areas of Development and Family Science, North Dakota State Toolkit available to organizations who wanted to con- family and consumer sciences. AAFCS, the sponsorUniversity were recognized by the American Associa- duct intergenerational technology training for older ing organization of the journal, is the only national tionCall 665-5884 to Sciences (AAFCS) with of Family and Consumer place your ad adults. A small fee is charged for the toolkit. This fee not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization that provides here. the Family & Consumer Sciences Research Journal is used to provide technical support. The project leadership and support to family and consumer sciBest Paper Award during the annual conference held was supported by Grantmakers in Aging Supporting ence professionals in education, research, business, in St. Louis, June 24. Older Adults in Rural Areas Program. and not-for-profit organizations. More information is INTERESTED IN THIS SPOT?Strommen, who co-authored the paper with The paper, “Training Younger Volunteers to available online. Promote Technology Use among Older Adults” was Brown, helped fine tune the project so the lessons co-authored by Brown and Strommen and published TO CALL 665-5884 learned could be comin the March issue of the FamilyPLACE YOUR AD HERE. into the TeachSD & Consumer Scipiled ences Research Journal and is available at and can Toolkit. be downloaded at no cost until July 15, 2019. 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