The Great Outdoors

Contrary to assumptions that the longer days of summer inspire people to be more active, many people still struggle to find the time to exercise during the summer. We know we should move more, but oftentimes hot weather, traveling and summer breaks decrease our motivation to be active.

In the past 20 years, the frequency of time children spend outdoors during the summer has steadily declined. No longer is it common for children to spend free time wandering their neighborhoods, lounging in their backyards or exploring the great outdoors.

Unrecognized parenting habits may reduce a child’s exposure to outdoor activities. Everyone knows the gender stereotypes: boys like to play sports; girls like to play house. These beliefs are so entrenched that sometimes parents naturally shift their play focus. Research has shown that preschool girls are 16 percent less likely than boys their age to be taken outside by their parents to play. Nearly half of preschoolers don’t venture outside with their parents to play every day, and girls are most likely to suffer. These facts were found in a new study of 8,950 American children in their final year before entering grade school.

Minority children and children under 5 who stay at home are most at risk. Although preschoolers should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, 42 percent of those who don’t regularly attend child care don’t go outside daily.

That lack of exposure can lead to a health disadvantage. We know we all need to get some exercise, but research indicates that being in nature may give us unique health advantages. Being outdoors is really great for motor development, while contact with nature is beneficial for cognitive development. For young children, exercise and play is interrelated. So when children spend time outdoors, they are more likely to be using their body in a way that shapes the development of multiple skills.

According to one study, moms were more likely than dads to take their kids outside, and gym-rat mothers even more so. Mothers who worked out more than four times per week were 50 percent more likely to take their child outside at least once a day than mothers who didn’t exercise.

Adults need “green time” as well. The constant stimuli of city life can be mentally exhausting, and life in the city can actually dull our thinking. A few minutes in a crowded city setting can cause the brain to suffer memory loss and reduced self-control. Even brief glimpses of natural elements improve brain performance by providing a cognitive break from the complex demands of urban life. Researchers at the University of Glasgow found activities in natural environments, such as forests and parks, have an especially positive effect on stress, fatigue and mood.

Some research shows that outdoor activity is more healthy than indoor exercise, specifically for mental health benefits. The experience of nature helps to restore the mind from the mental fatigue of work or studies, contributing to improved work performance and satisfaction.

Are you ready for adventure? Here are some local suggestions:

Kaiserslautern Zoo, Siegelbach — There are approximately 17 acres of about 60 animal species and 360 wild and domestic animals, with scheduled bird shows. There is a playground and restaurant. You can also bring a picnic for your family.

» To get there, take the A6 exit Kaiserslautern-West in the direction of Lauterecken to Siegelbach, signs posted.

» Address: Zum Tierpark 10, 67661 Kaiserslautern-Siegelbach

» Visit www.zoo-kl.de/wildside

K1 High Ropes Course, Mehlingen — For ages 5 and up. Slide and climb among the trees from platform to platform with safety equipment on different grades of difficulty.

» Address: Werner-Liebrich-Strasse, 67678 Mehlingen

» Visit: k1-waldseilpark.de

» See also: Page 339 in The Find-It Guide.

Freibad Waschmühle — This is the largest outdoor swimming pool in Germany.

» Visit: ww.kaiserslautern.de/leben_in_kl/freizeit_und_sport/schwimmbaeder/00425/index.html?lang=de

Barfußpfad, Germany (Barefoot Park) — This 3.5K barefoot walk along the River Nahe was the first one in Germany. It is equipped with a long basin of loam soil, and there are stations for various balancing exercises and several adventurous ways to cross the river: through the shallow ford, with a ferry boat or over a long suspension-bridge.

» Address: Bahnhofstraße 4, 55566 Bad Sobernheim

» Visit: ww.barfusspfad-bad-
sobernheim.de