Encourage your children to enjoy nature

The communicative, emotional and psychosocial benefits of being in kind are important, says the endocrinologist-pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Vancouver, Jean-Pierre Chanoine.

Outward Bound Canada wilderness instructor Jim Flom agrees. Spending five minutes in nature has a positive effect on the human brainexplains this specialist of the non-profit organization that offers training on outdoor activities.

Cooler weather and even rain should not be used excuses to the decrease in external activities, he believes, since they are only obstacles to overcome.

"More interested in Fortnite"

Experts suggest to parents to ensure the activity of their active children by going outside with them.

Photo: iStock

Jim Flom sees a growing number of kids who are more interested in video games, especially Fortnite, than in outdoor activities. This can represent a social problem, believes Mr. Chanoine, since the interactions that result from it are few.

There are smells, animals, walking in the rocks and actually a symbiosis in nature.

Experts believe that parents have an important role to play. Many of us prefer to watch a sport rather than play sports. We prefer to watch TV rather than being on TVsays Jim Flom.

He suggests that parents make sure their children are active by going out with them and setting an example. Times spent outdoors, planned or not, can be extremely educational, he says.

For Mr. Chanoine, the benefits for family ties outweigh the simple benefits of physical exercise: I think it's really the relationship at the level of the family unit and at the level of the interactions that are very positive.

Risk perception

The idea that his child could make a bad encounter, or fall and sprain his ankle could explain why some parents are hesitant to let their children play in nature, according to Jean-Pierre Chanoine.

Photo: Annie Spratt / Unsplash

Jean-Pierre Chanoine thinks that the decrease in activities in kind can be linked to the perception of the risk that this represents. The idea that his child may have a bad encounter, or fall and sprain his ankle may explain why some parents are reluctant to let their children play in kind, according to him.

But he recalls that there is very little evidence that these risks have increased. He believes that the perception of these risks has changed, particularly because of information posted on the Internet, in newspapers or on social media.

With BC Today information