Celebrating Nov. 6 (the first Saturday of the month) as National Play Outside Day is a great way to get out and have fun, visit pumpkin patches and corn mazes, go on hay rides and pick apples, winterize your flower beds or rake leaves (and then jump in the pile!), hike, camp, play tag, Frisbee, swing or even reading a book in a favorite lawn chair. Any activity that you can enjoy outside, freshens the body and awakens the mind as we learn to let down and let go while experiencing the outdoors.
How does outdoor play benefit us? The benefits are numerous. Outdoor play gives us time away from indoor work and time to explore. It allows us to step away from every day routine and gives us energy through fresh air and sunshine. We are motivated to do physical activity and clear our heads of unwanted stress. It gives us the ability to address stress, without even realizing our mind is awakening to new ideas or methods to resolve conflict.
Playing outdoors provides benefits from heart health to mental health. We experience new sights or sounds and our interests are piqued through exploring the world around us. Outdoor fun can also be a social activity through joining with friends and family. We are offered a small reprieve from daily responsibilities and distractions and are provided opportunities to release pent up energy in a positive manner.
Outside play also has many benefits for children as well as adults. Children thrive through playing and using their imaginations, while adults can offer ideas to children on different types of constructive outdoor play. Coloring with sidewalk chalk, making hop-scotches, climbing trees or watching insects (like butterflies or bees) can instill in our younger generations the importance of creative play, and instills in children that we should be observant and respect our environment. Adults, in turn, learn from watching children interact, and can join in their fun too.
At CDPL we have items that will assist you in finding your next favorite outdoor activity. A few suggestions are “150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids” by Asia Citro (796.5083 Cit); “Run, Jump, Hide, Slide, Splash: The 200 Best Outdoor Games Ever” by Joe Rhatigan (j 796 Rha); “The 175 Best Camp Games: A Handbook for Leaders” by Kathleen Fraser (790.15 Fra). These books are a great start if you are fresh out of ideas.
Whether it’s on a day trip to Milligan Park or canoeing down Sugar Creek, there is sure to be an outside activity for everyone. If searching for new outdoor ideas or adventure, turn to crafts created from nature. There are hundreds of nature projects that will spark interest in using the outdoors for not only active play, but also to inspire creativity once we return indoors. “A Little Bit of Dirt: 55+ Science and Art Activities to Reconnect Children with Nature” by Asia Citro (796.5 Cit); “The Truth About Nature: A Family’s Guide to 144 Common Myths about the Great Outdoors” by Stacy Tornio and Ken Keffer (508 Tor) and “The Curious Kid’s Science Book: 100+ Creative Hands-on Activities for Ages 4-8” by Asia Citro (507.8 Cit) will provide you with lots of ideas for outdoor fun for the curious mind.
National Play Outside Day is a flexible day to spend independently for quiet reflection like nature journaling, or for more social interactions like games, bird watching, or field trips. As long as we strive to get outside, get clean fresh air and sunshine, we are helping improve our physical and emotional well-being. Playing outside frees our minds and our souls. Would you like to learn more about deeply enjoying the outdoors while trying a new activity, then check out the following books: “How to Suffer Outside: A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking and Backpacking” by Diana Helmuth (796.51 Hel); “Your Guide to Forest Bathing: Experience the Healing Power of Nature” by M. Amos Clifford (615.8 Cli); and “Keeping a Nature Journal: Deepen Your Connection with the Natural World All Around You” by Clare Walker Leslie (508 Les).
At the library you can find many more ideas for outdoor fun. Contact us by email (ref@cdpl.lib.in.us) or by phone (765-362-2242, ext. 117) and find more materials related to the great outdoors. Stay active Montgomery County.
Stephanie Morrissette is a library assistant at the Reference & Local History Department at the Crawfordsville District Public Library.
