Outdoor games have always been crucial to a child’s growth. Parents like to indulge their kids in outdoor games or activities as soon as the child starts growing.
Unlike it has many benefits like physical, emotional, or psychological development, there are certain disadvantages as well. Everything comes with pros and cons; similarly, outdoor games have the same.
Fun outdoor games, or physical games, are played outside in open parks and fields. People with similar age groups usually meet each other once a day and play along. Hence, it can be said that outdoor games are very important in a child’s life, but there are certain consequences for the same, too.
Therefore, if you are wondering about the disadvantages of outdoor games, we are here to help you with that.
Disadvantages of Outdoor Games
Indoor and outdoor games both are a part of a kid’s life. Even when a kid is a toddler, parents try to encourage them to do a little crawling and walking to build motor skills. As children grow, they often engage in group outdoor activities, fostering social skills and teamwork in an expansive setting.
All kids come together and play unitedly, but there are certain concerns as well that we need to keep the focus on, and they are mentioned below.
1. Unpredictable Weather Conditions
The very first thing to consider while talking about outdoor games is unpredictable weather conditions. One does not know when the weather might change and how difficult it can be for kids to play. Too cold weather or too hot weather can also end up with disease and allergies. For instance, imagine your kid going to play outside, and suddenly, it starts raining; your kid might catch a cold and fever.
2. Limited Playing Area
When we talk about indoor games, it is obviously easy for kids to play because indoor games usually require no or very little space to play. Maybe your sofa or couch will work, but when we talk about outdoor games, a large field or play area is required. A kid needs to be free and roam around easily while playing. However, in today’s world, it is concerning because parks and fields are getting relatively small and limited.
3. Increased Allergies and Diseases
As you know, parks and open areas can be problematic in certain weather conditions like monsoons. During the time of monsoon, the growth of insects and flies increases, and it can cause various kinds of diseases in your kids. Apart from this, certain grasses or even flowers can cause allergies to your kid while playing. Hence, it is important to use mosquito and insect repellents beforehand to avoid any such concerns.
4. Safety Concerns
If your kid is playing at home, you can be a little rest assured because as they are in a limited and space environment, you don’t have to worry a lot. Meanwhile, if you are kid is playing outdoors, then you have to be extremely attentive and give proper attention to your kid because they can get hurt or even kidnapped. Outdoor premises are a little unsafe in this case, and it becomes essential to constantly monitor them.
5. Fights Within Groups
Yes, we know that when kids play outside with other kids, they tend to get more involved, and their communication skills do improve, but it is not always positive. Sometimes, it can be concerning as well. Kids might disagree on something and start fighting. This will not only give them physical injuries, but it can also be concerning in terms of mental health. One never knows how their kid takes it when it comes to fighting.
6. Seasonal Limitations
Outdoor play areas come with seasonal limitations as well. Every year, there are various season changes; sometimes, it gets so hot and humid that you can’t let your kid play outside. Sometimes, it might get snowing, and the area gets all covered and extremely cold, so you can’t let your kid play. Hence, it can be a little limited for your kid to play in certain seasons and timespans.
7. Extra Competitiveness
Competitiveness within yourself is a good thing if it is within limits. If a kid starts getting extremely competitive, it can also get overwhelming and concerning. When kids start playing in a group or outdoors, they tend to get competitive to be the best in every game, and they forget that sometimes losing a game is also fine. If your kid is playing outside, you have to take care of this as well.
Conclusion
Lastly, we would like to say that everything has pros and cons. Unlike anything outdoors, games also have the same. Before involving your kid in any game, it is important for a parent to understand all the aspects of it. One needs to make sure that their kid has an equal amount of indoor and outdoor games involved in their schedule so that they get the benefit of both.
Moving forward, if you are planning to get your kid into outdoor games, then make sure to follow a few things, like accompanying them every day. Make sure to be extra attentive towards your kids while they are playing. You should also fix some playing time and use mosquito repellent before moving out so that they don’t catch any allergies or infections.
Follow these tips, and your kid will be safe.
