Fun Freetime: Get Kids Outside with Lucky the TurfMutt, And Their Health Can Benefit Too

Spring is here and it’s time to get outside with your family and have fun! You can inspire your child to get outside with the TurfMutt environmental education and stewardship program.

Kids relate to Lucky, a real-life rescue dog, who calls on kids to become “backyard superheroes” who take care of green spaces while learning backyard science. Fun activities, e-books and more are available at www.TurfMutt.com.

And research shows that children reap health, social and personal benefits from spending time outside playing. Here are a few reasons why getting outside is such a great health benefit for kids:
Reason #1: Lawns can make you happier! Our stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces. Knowing and experiencing nature makes us happier and healthier people.

Reason #2: Getting dirty is good for you! Mycobacterium vaccae in soil mirrors the effect on neurons that Prozac provides. Give your kids a pair of gardening gloves and have them work with you in your green spaces for a hefty dose of Vitamin N(ature) and G(reen). People who spend time gardening and have direct contact with soil feel more relaxed and happier.

Reason #3: Exposure to natural settings may be widely effective in reducing attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children. Children improve attention and working memory when they are exposed to greenery.

Reason #4:  Living landscapes help people and pets be healthier. Playing outdoors increases fitness levels and builds healthy, active bodies.

Reason #5:  Your lawn produces oxygen and cleans the air too. Fifty square feet of grass generates enough oxygen daily for a family of four, and reduces the “code red” effect since grass removes pollutants from the air we breathe.

For more information on TurfMutt, go to www.TurfMutt.com. For more information about the health benefits of our living landscapes, go to www.livinglandscapesmatter.com.