The Importance of Getting Outside This Summer

The school year is winding down, and soon, summer break will be upon us. We all know that it has been a tough year for our children– maybe the toughest school year ever. Whether your child is 5 or 15, whether they’re learning in-person or learning from home, every student has experienced challenges and hardships as we’ve navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The trials of the past year have also made us– especially our children– more reliant on their devices than ever before. According to a study quoted in the New York Times, children’s screen time doubled in May 2020 compared to May 2019. In the United States, children between the ages of 4 and 15 spent 97 minutes on YouTube in March and April of 2020 compared to 57 minutes in February 2020. Some children are starting to see devices as their whole life. 

That’s why it is critical that families go outside this summer. And you don’t have to sacrifice safety to do it. In many situations, whether that’s getting out on a boat, going for a hike, or even taking a trip to the beach, it is pretty easy to socially distance. And the CDC recently relaxed guidance on wearing masks outdoors, revealing that less than 10% of coronavirus cases were contracted outdoors. 

For children and adults alike, it has been a trying year. So put down the phones and the tablets and the laptops and the headsets. Step outside and immerse yourself in nature. You might be surprised by what you find.