Let's give nature back to our children!

According to a representative study of 1000 parents throughout Switzerland by the market research institute LINK, our children spend an average of 22.5 hours a day indoors. Our children only spend 1.5 hours outside, outdoors, in nature or, as they say in Switzerland, «in the fresh air».

Close to nature, resilient, satisfied

Two thirds of the parents surveyed stated that they themselves spent much more time outside than their children do today. The paradox? We parents know exactly how positively time spent outdoors affects our children. Time outside makes children more connected to nature (say 88 per cent of parents), more resilient (86 per cent), they sleep better (85 per cent), spend less time in front of screens and are happier (84 per cent each).

<img alt="Children need time in the fresh air for healthy development. « src="https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/87/2024/01/5namuk.png» />

<img alt="Outdoortime is healthy and important for a child's development. « src="https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/87/2024/01/6namuk.png» />

<img alt="Outdoortime is healthy and important for a child's development. « src="https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/87/2024/01/7namuk.png» />

<img alt="Out in the fresh air: Parents set a great example. « src="https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/87/2024/01/8namuk.png» />

<img alt="Do you lack ideas about what you can do outside? Nothing could be easier! Let namuk inspire you. « src="https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/87/2024/01/10namuk.png» />

<img alt="Do you lack ideas about what you can do outside? Nothing could be easier! Let namuk inspire you. « src="https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/87/2024/01/11namuk.png» />

<img alt="Do you lack ideas about what you can do outside? Nothing could be easier! Let namuk inspire you. « src="https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/87/2024/01/12namuk.png» />

<img alt="Do you lack ideas about what you can do outside? Nothing could be easier! Let namuk inspire you. « src="https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/87/2024/01/13namuk.png» />

Now comes the challenge: the biggest factor influencing our children to get out into the fresh air again and get to know nature as a resource is... us parents. Our role model function, motivation and inspiration is what children need to go outside. If parents don't see us going out, our children won't go out.

Outdoortime before Screentime

Instead of having daily discussions about screen time, we would rather discuss outdoor time with our children. «Who has been outside today?» should become a central question in everyday family life, I think. If we consistently integrate outdoor time into our everyday lives, we can develop new habits, rituals, ideas and activities together with our children. Because a child who is out in nature won't miss the screen. Because they are naturally busy.