The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for everyone, and children are no exception.Their day-to-day routines were upended and their connection to the outside world was cut short.
As parents, we are doing everything we can to make their lives as comfortable and full as we can as the pandemic continues.
The pandemic has taken so much from our children, which is why we should make the most of what we have and let our children participate in as many safer activities as possible. Take kids outside as it gets them moving, connects them to nature, promotes positive behavior, and enhances learning. Getting outdoors has both physical and mental health benefits, including increasing physical-activity levels, boosting mood, preventing anxiety, and contributing to a healthy immune system.
“In the context of the COVID-19 crisis, when our regular routines and coping strategies are being challenged, a connection with the outdoors and the environment becomes even more important,” says Mark Tremblay, senior research scientist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute and Professor of Pediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. “Children have an innate desire to connect with nature.”
One study found that children who lack exposure to nearby green spaces were up to 55 per cent more likely to develop depression and anxiety in later years. Kids also need sun exposure to make vitamin D, necessary to absorb minerals essential to growth and development, and also needed for a healthy immune system. “That’s what we need to fight COVID and any other thing that’s going to come after,” Tremblay said. “Immune systems respond to healthy living behaviours.”
But it’s also very important that public health guidelines be carefully followed to protect children and others from spreading the novel coronavirus. How do parents get their kids out safely?
- Everyone, vaccinated or not, should wear a mask whenever they are in a public indoor setting or outdoor setting. If people are wearing masks, the risk of transmission is much lower.
- Activities that involve your immediate family are safest.
- Choose locations with the fewest people possible is also smart.
- If you are going to interact with others, make sure you maintain social distance.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer.
- Visit parks and recreation areas close to home to minimize travel, which can expose you to the virus.
- Look at how crowded a playground or park is. The more densely packed a group of children is, the harder social distancing can be.
- Encourage kids not to touch their faces while playing and to wear a mask.
Try to keep your kids happy and also safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are really unable to get kids outside regularly, have them sit by a window and make sure to let fresh air in throughout the day.