Expert: Kids Benefit When They Learn Outdoors
Posted at: 09/18/2012 10:44 PM
| Updated at: 09/18/2012 10:52 PM
By: Dayna Landgrebe
The beauty and accessibility of getting outdoors is something that's valuable to so many of us, and it's exactly what one expert wants us to remember for our kids.
David Sobel, a childhood development expert, spoke to an audience at UMD's Weber Music Hall on Tuesday night. Sobel was appealing to environmental educators, parents, city planners, anyone, he says, who cares about kids.
He said providing outdoor experiences for children every day is crucial for development.
"We tolerate risk in youth sports... like hockey or soccer because we understand the benefits of teamwork and physical exercise. But we've gotten into the mindset that any risk on the playground or any risk climbing a tree means that we're not going to tolerate it," Sobel said.
Sobel advocates that "place-based" education and getting kids outdoors as part of school is the best way to educate.
Tuesday's talk by Sobel, called "Why 21st Century Children Need Nature: Designing Natural Play Areas," was hosted by UMD.
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