SOME BENEFITS OF BEING OUTDOORS

• Nature is essential to our physical, psychological health and wellbeing
• Fresh air helps our respiratory systems
• Sunlight generates vitamin D - which is essential for healthy bones
• Healthy functioning of our minds and bodies
• Nature has the ability to encourage our brains to relax, therefore improve our memory, attention span and brain development
• Nature helps to reduce stress levels and can in turn help to lower blood pressure
• Nature can help to reduce the risk of depression
• Nature stimulates all our senses
• Being outdoors allows us to become more creative
• Boost our mood
• Being outdoors gives us a break from technology
• It gives us a more clear, focused mindset
• It's free!

Outdoor play for children

Outdoor play has numerous benefits for children

Body:

• Outdoor play increases fitness levels and builds active, healthy bodies.
• Spending time outside raises levels vitamin D, helping protect children from future bone problems, heart disease, diabetes and other health related issues
• Being outdoors improves distance vision and lowers the chance of nearsightednes

Mind:

• Exposure to natural settings may allows for the development of creativity

Spirit:

• Children's stress levels fall within minutes of seeing Greenspaces
• Play protects children's emotional development whereas loss of free time and a hurried lifestyle can contribute to anxiety and depression
• Nature makes you nicer! It enhances social interactions, value for community and close relationships

For more information on how outdoor play can help your children go to the Play Scotland's website.

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Tips for being outdoors

Being prepared is crucial to being outdoors.  Living in Scotland we have to be use to the ever changing weather patterns!  Therefore ensuring you have extra clothing with you at all times and for all weathers is essential.

Avoid dehydration by carrying plenty of water with you.  Some signs of dehydration are;

Dizziness, light-headedness

Infrequent urination, bright or dark coloured urine

Wear sunscreen when heading outside.  Some reasons why you should wear sunscreen include;

Helping protect your skin from harmful rays from the sun.

Sunscreen has been proven to decrease the development of skin cancer.

It helps slow down the development of wrinkled, premature aging skin.

Know where you're going - if you don't know the area well, take a map or leaflet.

Take a mobile phone and / or tell someone where you've gone if you're going out for a long period of time.

 If you're wearing headphones, make sure you can hear traffic and are aware of everything that's going on around you.

For more tips, or information on getting out walking every day go to the NHS Inform website.

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