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Are digital devices becoming your child’s best friends? Whether it’s watching their favorite cartoons, engaging in mobile games, or diving into online learning, children nowadays are increasingly confined indoors glued to digital screens rather than spending time playing outdoor games. Excessive screen time, coupled with activities like watching TV and prolonged reading or writing, has been linked to the risk of myopia or near-sightedness.1
Myopia is swiftly emerging as a significant global public health challenge. By 2050, it's projected that nearly 50% of the global population could be myopic.2
While outdoor games undeniably boost physical activity in children, ensuring fitness and healthy growth, the advantages aren't merely physical, especially for those with myopia.3 When you hear about myopia, or nearsightedness, your first thought might be about prescription glasses, contact lenses, or perhaps even laser surgery. But did you realize that mere exposure to sunlight might be a pivotal factor in not only preventing but potentially curbing the progression of myopia in children?
The protective impact of increased time outdoors against myopia applies especially in children performing higher amounts of near work. Outdoor games ensure that there is typically less “near work” or indoor activities. Moreover, studies have also suggested that exposure to sunlight produces more dopamine in the retina, which can inhibit the development of myopia.4
Outdoor games played during childhood often resonate deeply with parents, evoking a sense of nostalgia. Watching children revel in the same games can be heartwarming. For parents keen on nudging their kids outdoors, here are the top 5 outdoor games that promise both fun and an array of developmental benefits:
1. Hide and Seek Every corner of the house or the garden brings back memories of those perfect hiding spots, making 'Hide and Seek' a game every parent fondly remembers. This timeless game isn't just about hiding and seeking. It promotes observational skills, spatial awareness, and patience. Plus, the constant running, crouching, and sneaking around also gives kids a good physical workout. How to Play: One child closes their eyes and counts while the others hide somewhere outdoors. After counting, the seeker looks for the hiders. The last person found becomes the next seeker!
2. Hopscotch This simple chalk game improves balance, motor skills, and number recognition. There was a time when every alley, floor or ground were demarcated by the numbered squares. Here’s how one can play this game: Draw a series of numbered squares. Players toss a small object into a numbered square and then hop through the squares to retrieve it, skipping the square with the object.
3. Gully Cricket A game close to every Indian’s heart, the sound of the cricket ball hitting the bat is a reminder of those endless summer afternoons spent smashing sixes through windowpanes and running away. For those not aware about the rules, Cricket is played between two teams where one side bats to score runs while the other bowls and fields to prevent runs and try to get the batsmen out. While gully cricket is a narrowed down version of the actual game played in large grounds or stadiums, while playing in streets or alleys, every window and car is a potential target or obstacle, hence children should be advised to not get carried away.
4. Frisbee Another interesting game that you can teach your kids. The flying disc in the air, picnics in the park, and those diving catches make parents nostalgically recall their own sunny days and fun outings. This game can help improve coordination, agility, and teamwork. Using a flying disc, kids aim to pass and catch, sometimes following rules or sometimes just enjoying the simple joy of a well-thrown frisbee.
5. Badminton in Open Spaces Another timeless sport that brings back fond memories. For those who are not aware, this game can be played with rackets and shuttle cocks in gardens, terraces, or streets, and is truly worth enjoying the thrill of every smash and drop. The shuttlecock soaring in the sky, often lost on rooftops, serves as a nostalgic reminder to parents of neighbourhood tournaments and friendly rivalries. These timeless outdoor games, which have been an integral part of many joyous childhoods, can potentially shield your child from visual complications. Moreover, these outdoor games could also serve as a start to build interest and spark your child’s imagination towards the infinite possibilities of the world. However, it is important that spending more time outdoors should go hand in hand with decreasing screen time and near-work activities as these factors support healthy vision of kids. Daily outdoor time of 2 to 2.5 hours reduces the risk of myopia.5 Along with outdoor games, regular eye check-ups are equally important as they help determine vision-related issues in your child in time.
So, the next time your child reaches for the TV remote or phone, encourage them to go out and have fun in the sun. It might just be a sight-saving choice.
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