On a sunny afternoon, a picnic is a perfect escape from your daily routine. But did you know there are a number of benefits to going on a picnic?
Here are 5 reasons why you should picnic with your kids:
1. Family bonding
Going on a picnic allows you to focus on your kids without distractions. Picnics are the perfect opportunity to make your kids feel loved and heard. Plus, you never know what you might learn from your kids. A little family competition playing picnic games will also help your family bond— here are a few of our favorites.
2. Improved mental health
The fresh air does wonders for your child’s mental health. Spending time outside is shown to reduce levels of anxiety and lower levels of activity in the parts of our brains related to mental illness. Time in the sunshine is also related to improved mood and reduced stress levels for the whole family.
3. Physical health pluses
Time outside benefits our physical health. Breathing in fresh air is beneficial for children with respiratory problems like asthma. A picnic on a sunny day also aids in vitamin D and calcium absorption, which helps to build strong bones and teeth and helps prevent diseases like osteoporosis and rickets. Just don’t forget the sunblock when spending time in the sun!
4. Better behavior
It turns out eating with your kids, such as a picnic lunch, leads to better behavior. Children that eat family meals are less likely to partake in risky behaviors like smoking and drinking. This benefit also translates to academic performance—children that eat with their families tend to have higher grades than those who don’t.If your child has been testing your limits, try including more family picnics this summer.
5. Self-reflection time
Parents and children alike can benefit from meditation and self-reflection. Picnics are relatively peaceful environments that encourage these introspective behaviors. It’s important to give children time to be alone and learn about themselves through self-reflection, which can easily be done on a picnic.
Picnics are fun, but now you know that picnics are also great for your family. Head out this National Picnic Month and soak up all the benefits that picnics have to offer.
