Savannah pediatrician Dr. Kelsey Alexander: Get Outdoors This Spring
Savannah Pediatrician Dr. Kelsey Alexander on the health impact of spending time outdoors
Below is a guest post by Savannah pediatrician Dr. Kelsey Alexander @ Coastal Care Partners’ new Concierge Pediatric Clinic
Are you having trouble motivating your kids (and yourself) to get outside and spend less time in front of a screen? It’s so easy to fall into the usual routine, but why not choose one or two of these ideas to change things up this spring?
Getting a daily dose of fresh air, sunshine, and movement is great for our mental, physical, and emotional health. According to Healthychildren.org, spending time outside can help children and teens promote curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking; lower stress, depression, and anger; improve impulse control and motor development; and lower rates of obesity. All this while helping our bodies produce vitamin D to stay healthy and strong!
Gardening:
Gardening can help give your children a sense of responsibility and accomplishment, all while sparking some interest in eating different herbs, vegetables, or fruit. And you don’t need a green thumb to help get them started! Start with one or two small pots so that it is not a chore for either of you and also to make it easier to measure and track the plants’ growth. Then, try different lighting and watering as needed.
*For smaller pots, herbs (basil, parsley, rosemary, mint, cilantro) work best. Have your kids use the basil and parsley for pesto or pasta, and use rosemary on chicken or potatoes. They can also put mint and cucumber in their water and cilantro in guacamole or tacos!
*For larger pots or garden beds, try lettuce, cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, strawberries, celery, green beans, okra, zucchini, and summer squash!
Other Ways to Play:
As the weather continues to warm up, there are plenty of ways to get your kids (and your entire family!) outdoors!
Stop by the park, playground, or basketball or tennis court on the way home from school. Going immediately after school prevents everyone from getting comfortable inside at home before working up the energy to get outside again. You can also bike or walk with your kids while they scooter, just don’t forget helmets!
There are also plenty of opportunities to play in the water, even if you don’t have access to a pool! Try water balloons, a sprinkler, or slip ‘n slides for water fun! You can even find reusable water balloons online to avoid picking up all the small plastic pieces afterward.
It’s important to keep in mind that you don’t have to be active the entire time you’re outdoors. Painting, writing, or reading outside can be extremely relaxing! Grab a beach chair, picnic blanket, or even a hammock to enjoy the fresh air, sunlight, and scenery.
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Coastal Care Partners, 4B Skidaway Village Walk, Savannah, GA 31411, 912.598.6312. Coastal Care Partners Concierge Pediatric Clinic is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser