Help
With Your Rule
Kids Don't Get Out Much...
Dear Holly,
We homeschool and I find my children don't get outside as much as I would like. It seems there is always so much to do around here that I am not always able to get them outside. My oldest is old enough to go out alone, but my youngest (1) needs me to take her out. Do you have any suggestions for me on how to get them outdoors more without leaving things undone indoors?
Labels: 4th P Parent, Homeschooling
posted by Holly at 9:03 AM
1 Comments:
They say that for every 'yes' we say to one thing, we subsequently say 'no' to another! This issue is a matter of priorities.
It seems to me that the 5th P has been placed in top position here, with work inside the home taking a higher priority than health and personal care, of your children, and perhaps for you too!
Outside fresh air and exercise is an essential element of a healthy lifestyle, and in my opinion, falls within the second P for both you and your kids. I think it needs to be treated as we hopefully treat our prayer life - we must MAKE time for important activities such as this, and put other things on the back burner. This is a higher P.
First off, I would encourage you to commit both yourself and your children to 30 minutes of outside activity a day - a walk in the park or local trails or outside garden or yard cleanup - are both ways to get exercise and fresh air. If Mummy goes too, then the little one is taken care of.
The benefits of this are profound, really. You get Vitamin D which comes from contact with the sun, and can help lessen winter blues. You get fresh air which combats what can be a higher toxic environment of the inside of the home - even a good fresh "airing out" daily of the home is a good idea. You get exercise which is essential to physical and mental health. It gives everyone a change of pace, helps relieve stress, and lessens cabin fever. And if you do it too, it becomes a personal time of sharing an activity with both your children.
In addition, but not to the exclusion of the above, you could also build a small fenced in area - perhaps in the porch or a small section of the back yard, and get some children's toys which are safe, and that creates a safe environment for the children outside together - given that the oldest is old enough to capably supervise the little one. But if not, it is essential for you and your kids to get out, and it falls upon you to do it.
I have always found that by focusing on the benefits of activities, it helps motivate me - our hearts are naturally attracted to doing the good, and our reason is part of that which informs us of what is good. Read up about the benefits and necessity of outside fresh air and exercise, and this will help you decide to 'make' time for this important activity, and put all lesser-Ps in their place.
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