With how much teens watch TV and use social media, it is not surprising that many of them do not get enough fresh air. Teens need to spend enough time outdoors, though, as not doing so could affect their mental health.
So, if you find your teen alone in their bedroom more often than not, here are some ways to encourage them to get outside more.
Consider Mental Health Problems
Not every teen is lazy when they refuse to go outside – some might suffer from depression, anxiety, or another mental health disorder. While you should not jump to this conclusion, it is crucial to be aware of the signs, especially due to how common mental illnesses are in the youth.
If you discover that your child has a mental health problem, help them get better by using Ignite Teen Treatment. By seeking treatment sooner rather than later, they are more likely to overcome their problems and return to the happy teen you once knew.
Plan Family Trips Out
If your teen refuses to make plans outside on their own, do it for them by planning family trips in the outdoors. Pick something that they truly enjoy, such as hiking or visiting the zoo to ensure that they enjoy their time outside with you. Once they realize how much better they feel after spending time outdoors, they will be more likely to start doing it without encouragement.
Find an Outdoors Hobby
There are plenty of clubs that your teen could join to get outside more, such as football, tennis, and even gardening. Let your teen know that you will help fund any outdoor hobby that they want to pursue and, hopefully, they will choose something that both excites them and gives them the fresh air they need.
Let them Bring Friends
If your teen is not too pleased about all the outdoor trips you are planning, make them more appealing by allowing them to bring along a friend or two. They will be more likely to have more fun, which means they will want to come along more often.
Teach Them Outdoor Life Skills
With the prevalence of social media and online learning, many teens miss out on the essential outdoor skills that the older generation takes for granted. So, improve their development by taking them on camping trips and showing them how to survive in the wild. They might be reluctant at first, but after some time, they will come to appreciate just how fun and invigorating being in the great outdoors really is.
Improve Your Garden
While you might want your teen to go further than the backyard, an hour sat in the garden is better than staying in a stuffy room all day. To encourage your teen to get outside, you should improve your garden by hanging up lights, planting more flowers, and pulling out the furniture.
Encouraging your teen to go outside will not always be easy but it is important to do, so that they get some much-needed fresh air and Vitamin D provided by the great outdoors.
