Do your children spend an hour or more outside each day?

Generally speaking my kids would easily get an hour or more outside each day - unless it's raining kittens and puppies! My study is actually external to the house (converted carport) so I can sit in there and "watch" the kids play in the yard. We run the radio and dance, they play in the sandpit, steal tomatoes out of the garden and then we play "gingerbread man" (as in "you can't catch me..."). We live in Cairns so I make sure we don't play outside in the middle of the day, that's our "quiet time" inside, but in the early morning and late afternoon we get outside. We also love doing outdoor activities like going to the zoo, bushwalking or going to the park.

by lizzi

My boy used to spend all morning outside as he was at a Waldkindergarten in Germany, where they had no indoors! That was great and he loved it, regardless of the weather. In fact, rain was welcomed as that meant lots of mud and puddles :)
Back in England, there is no equivalent and his current nursery has them playing outside for an hour every morning unless it's raining when they stay in. He does spend a large part of the afternoon in our garden though, but as it's very small he doesn't get to run around as much as he would like, it's time spent mostly digging up the lawn (shhh don't tell my husband!) and doing chalk drawings on the terrace. I try to take him to the park but haven't been feeling up to it recently.
But I do think it is important for small children particularly to be out as much as possible, one hour doesn't sound like enough time to me!

by VerityG

I think it's important to LIVE! Whether it's inside or outside, it doesn't matter so much. I think the idea of outdoors as some vital activity is based on the idea that all you do inside is watch TV or play on a computer, but we do heaps of great stuff indoors!

by meggf

I agree!! When we were talking about this hubby and I agreed that even when our kids are inside they don't just sit around watching TV - they play, or "help" me cook or generally get underfoot lol

Very Important for any child to have outside time. Make sure they have sun cream on and a hat.
I know parents worrie about the Sun, but it is essential for well being and health.
Being inside all day is not normal at all.

by jonaja

My boy used to spend all morning outside as he was at a Waldkindergarten in Germany, where they had no indoors! That was great and he loved it, regardless of the weather. In fact, rain was welcomed as that meant lots of mud and puddles :)
Back in England, there is no equivalent and his current nursery has them playing outside for an hour every morning unless it's raining when they stay in. He does spend a large part of the afternoon in our garden though, but as it's very small he doesn't get to run around as much as he would like, it's time spent mostly digging up the lawn (shhh don't tell my husband!) and doing chalk drawings on the terrace. I try to take him to the park but haven't been feeling up to it recently.
But I do think it is important for small children particularly to be out as much as possible, one hour doesn't sound like enough time to me!

by VerityG

Not sure why this has posted twice - is there a way to delete this duplicate answer?

Not each day, but my son does love being outdoors. If it wasn't so warm and if our lawn wasn't covered in bindis, he'd be out there all day, every day.

by Vee

We are lucky to have a wonderful garden and outdoor space for the kids to play, so we do spend several hours outdoors every day. I would find it very challenging living in an apartment with children.

by Lucy

Usually, my sons get more than an hour of play time. However it has been raining consistently for weeks so this time is considerably reduced. Outside time is very critical to their development.

by dwatk