A new study on the American preschooler and the outdoors has a few interesting findings. Alongside its conclusion that most preschoolers get insufficient active outdoors playtime (which is, by now, pretty well documented), it suggests that stay at home parents are generally worse than preschools at getting kids outside, that parents who exercise themselves are more likely to exercise with their kids, and that girls play outside much less than boys. This last one is the one I find most disturbing. This early lack of outdoors play seems to set bad foundations for female health. Not having girls, and being an outdoorsy kind of girl myself, I can’t really guess at the reasons why toddler girls are not going outside. Is it a natural difference, parental expectations or societal pressure? Mothers of girls…?
Posts Tagged ‘preschoolers outside’
Nature and the American Preschooler
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged gender differences in play, outdoors play, preschoolers outside, why don't girls play out on April 10, 2012| 1 Comment »
The Outdoors Parent 