Courtesy photo: Santa Fe fun.
Ordinary outdoor play in nature has extraordinary benefits for you and your littles
By Angelica Gabriel
As a mother of a 10-year-old son, I know it can sometimes be challenging to get out of the house. It’s been a long week; I have work to do; there are chores around the house to be done; it’s too hot—these are some of my favorite excuses for not going outside during the summer. However, I have found if I can ignore the nag of the excuse and lean into the sweetness of summer, I experience the benefits.
Little planning needed for an in-town outdoor adventure. Water bottle, snacks, change of clothes, your kids’ personal needs list, and check—out the door. Getting out the door can be the biggest obstacle and turn into the biggest reward.
As the weather starts warming up, there is a natural pull to be outside in the crisp air, being warmed by the bright sun. I feel so blessed to have ample outdoor space to explore in Santa Fe and around New Mexico. Some of my son’s and my favorite memories of summer are discovering little hidden pockets of fun around Santa Fe. Each weekend, depending on the amount of time we have, our adventure can take us a few minutes to the local arroyo, with a walk to discover treasures or taking a short drive to find one of the creeks nearby to splash in some water. Adventures that include shade, water, and endless nature to discover are the best.
As a parent in our modern world there seems to be a continuous struggle to get the kiddos off the screen. The struggle is real. I have found it helpful to hear the challenges from other parents and know that we are battling the system together. Studies have shown that screen time can be a literal addiction. How can we all motivate one another to do better for our kids and for ourselves? Hopefully, I can share a little inspiration here.
Being outdoors has plenty of benefits to our overall health. I will begin with the impact of nature on our mental and emotional health. Spending time in nature can reduce stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression, as well as exposure to natural light which helps regulate our sleep cycles providing better sleep quality. And as we know kids and parents getting a good night’s sleep has a positive impact on the whole family system.
Courtesy photo: A little water play.
As the days get longer, more sunlight is available for us to enjoy. This call from the sun encourages us to get out of the house with our little ones to soak up that vitamin D, promoting bone health and overall wellness. Being present in the outdoors engages all 5 of our senses: sight, hearing, feeling, smell and taste. A self-regulation tool taught by therapists is called the “5,4,3,2,1” tool: Take a moment, a deep breath and name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you can taste.” This practice can be done silently in your own head when you are overwhelmed as a parent. It’s also a practice you can start with your whole family to really live and be present in the moment. Introduce and practice this with your child(ren) when they are calm, not when they are having a meltdown. The more you practice, the more they will be able to utilize this resource when or before they are overwhelmed.
When a child is engaging all their senses, not only are they present but they are also improving their cognitive development. Playing in nature encourages exploration, curiosity, and experimentation with different textures and materials. Play with other children helps develop language and motor skills, experimentation and problem solving and improves children’s social interactions. Responding to nature with others teaches essential skills of sharing, cooperation, and resolving conflicts; children working through challenges develop a strong sense of self-esteem and confidence.
Besides the extraordinary health benefits of nature, it is just fun. We have experienced this fun through activities like those provided by the Railyard Park Conservancy. There has been an expansion of the Railyard Park Conservancy over the past two years to offer outdoor sand play to more communities across Santa Fe. These two-hour windows of time offer an opportunity to have a large impact on your day. Places to play include Railyard Park, Tierra Nueva Counseling Center, Earth Care, Santa Fe School for the Arts and Science, and of course the sand play at the Children’s Museum.
Each location has created a unique sense of community and play. It has been a great way to get to know other young families, a consistent play date, low key plan that has developed longer term friendships for families.
Once you arrive at sand play and get settled, enjoy the warmth of the sun on your skin, the feel of sand squishing between your toes, the smell of sunscreen and the sound of giggles as small hands splash in the water. A feeling of calm and stillness allows me to rest and enjoy just being present as a parent, living in the moment. It is a delight to see the children interact with one another and watch their imaginations soar as they discover what creation they will build next. From mermaids, to baking, to creating rivers and towers, the possibilities are endless.
Courtesy photo: Mer-person art.
My son has always been excited about the largest possibilities with sand play, like can we dig to the bottom of the sand pit? He starts out digging a deep hole utilizing all sorts of tools as shovels including kitchen spoons, a truck, a rock or stick. After digging a sizable hole with no bottom in sight he decides to bury himself in the sand. Others around him are happy to take part in the challenge and create an art form out of the process. He exerted a lot of energy this morning, leading into a smooth day and we all had so much fun engaging together as a family; leading to a good night’s sleep.
As a parent, I feel a successful day has been achieved: outdoors (off screen), physical activity, engagement with others, creativity, sharing, learning, communication, play, and more. Goals achieved, parenting win, and the kids yelling as they leave, “Can we do that again?”
Indeed, every week of the summer on different days throughout Santa Fe, you can! Sand Play is free at all locations for families of all ages: stay up to date with the schedule at bit.ly/42cVKUm. Have a great summer, remember even the ordinary outdoor moments you spend with your children have extraordinary benefits.
Angelica Gabriel is a single parent and the operations and training manager at Tierra Nueva Counseling Center, providing services as an art therapist utilizing sand tray and play therapy. Tierra Nueva is a nonprofit organization that offers mental health services to the Santa Fe community, located on the Southside. Visit tierranuevacounseling.org for more information.
