{"id":14720,"date":"2021-03-18T02:25:22","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T02:25:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.openbusinesscouncil.org\/?p=14720"},"modified":"2021-11-12T17:27:53","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T17:27:53","slug":"the-many-benefits-of-nature-for-everyone-from-babies-to-oaps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.footballthink.com\/the-many-benefits-of-nature-for-everyone-from-babies-to-oaps\/","title":{"rendered":"The Many Benefits of Nature: For Everyone from Babies to OAPs"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
If ever we\u2019re feeling stuck in a rut, a bit fed up or in need of some head space, a walk outside will usually help. Getting out and about in the fresh air does wonders for our mental and physical health and research has suggested that a two-hour \u201cdose\u201d of nature a week \u201c<\/span>significantly boosts health and wellbeing<\/span><\/a>\u201d. It\u2019s considered so important that two hours outside a week could soon join official health advice alongside five portions of fruit and veg a day and 150 minutes of exercise a week.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The great thing about stepping out into nature is that it takes little planning and is available to everyone. Whether aged five or seventy-five, we all benefit from putting on our shoes, closing the door behind us and heading out in the fresh air.<\/span><\/p>\n Okay, so some children will take more persuading than others to get outside. But the benefits are undeniable.<\/span><\/p>\n The unstructured nature of hiking national parks<\/a>, outdoor play and the variation that it offers allows youngsters to choose how they wish to interact with the outdoor environment \u2013 in turn building their confidence. It allows for creativity and imagination and activates all their senses, not to mention it gets them moving and their blood pumping.<\/span><\/p>\n Life with a newborn is tough and walks outside will benefit both parent and baby \u2013 even if it does take hours to leave the house. To make your life easier, <\/span>invest in a baby carrier<\/span><\/a> \u2013 it\u2019ll free your hands for that much needed cup of coffee and won\u2019t restrict you to certain routes like when you\u2019re pushing a pram.<\/span><\/p>\n Toddlers love being outdoors \u2013 that\u2019s where the puddles are, after all. Make it even more fun by organising a scavenger hunt \u2013 they can search for sticks, stones, leaves, even spiders. It\u2019ll give them focus and teach them new things, too. And why no try taking them to a Forest School toddler class, if you\u2019ve got one nearby? Fun and mess guaranteed!<\/span><\/p>\n Fortunately, school curriculums cater to getting children outside \u2013 for instance, <\/span>school trips are invaluable to older children<\/span><\/a>, getting them outdoors, exploring and learning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Getting outside is just as important as we get older, keeping us active and boosting wellbeing. In fact, one care home put it to the test when they planned a month of outdoor adventures for their residents. They found that many of them, who have varying physical and mental disabilities, became \u201c<\/span>less agitated as they have spent more time outdoors focusing on wildlife<\/span><\/a>\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n There is <\/span>no end of exercise classes available to the elderly<\/span><\/a>. With everything from dance, to Pilates, Zumba and walking clubs, there\u2019s no excuse to not get outside and get the blood pumping.<\/span><\/p>\n Nobody should feel restricted, whatever their mental and physical ability. There are many special tours to be booked for seniors to get out exploring the country, and care homes will organise trips to get residents out and about. Such trips don\u2019t need to be difficult \u2013 <\/span>with the incredible range of mobility vehicles available these days<\/span><\/a>, nowhere is out of bounds.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If ever we\u2019re feeling stuck in a rut, a bit fed up or in need of some head space, a walk outside will usually help. Getting out and about in the fresh air does wonders for our mental and physical health and research has suggested that a two-hour \u201cdose\u201d of nature a week \u201csignificantly boosts […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":14721,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":""},"categories":[3822],"tags":[17247],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNature and the Younger Generations<\/span><\/h2>\n
How we can Get Children Outside<\/span><\/h3>\n
Babies<\/span><\/h4>\n
Toddlers<\/span><\/h4>\n
School Children<\/span><\/h4>\n
Nature and the Older Generations<\/span><\/h2>\n
How we can Encourage the Elderly to get Outside<\/span><\/h3>\n
Exercise Classes<\/span><\/h4>\n
Organised Trips<\/span><\/h4>\n