Camping with your family is a simple way to get outside and increase their health. It doesn’t seem like long ago when children were rushing to get outside and play, ride their bikes, go camping, head to the park, and generally have fun being active. How times have changed! In just a few decades, the average lifestyle in developed countries has become increasingly lethargic. People browse the internet rather than take a walk or watch a movie rather than take a bike ride on a local trail. In your own home, you have probably observed that family members are ever more connected to their gadgets and computers.
The most worrying thing about this change is the effect that it has on overall health. The human body didn’t evolve to stand still, so it makes sense that you should try to get active, at least for a short time, every single day of the week. Let’s look at five ways getting outside on your next camping holiday can benefit the health of you and your family.
Go camping, relax and stop yelling at the children
Have you ever sat down with a coffee and your tablet, and called that relaxing? True relaxation comes when we have time to be introspective and reflective which means keeping the kids
occupied while we enjoy some quiet… What better way to do this than to go outside and disconnect from the digital world; go outside for a stroll (the kids can tag along on their bikes) or go camping – trust me the kids will be occupied doing things out of the ordinary and you might actually get some down time! 
Get some sunny vibes for bone health
Vitamin D deficiency is common in Australia with over 30% of adults having a mild to severe deficiency. The good news is that your body can generate this vitamin simply by being in sunlight! Just by increasing your families outdoor time (for instance through a camping trip), you can gain many health benefits including strong bones, decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and a decreased risk of some forms of cancer. What better reason is there to get outdoors when the weather is nice? Just remember to slap on some sunscreen to protect yourself from UV Rays.
Decrease your risk of disease
Almost 2 in 3 adults are overweight or obese in Australia. 1 in 4 Australian children are overweight or obese. Obesity is the 2nd highest contributor to burden of disease. If your family spends a lot of time indoors, camping is a fantastic way to get out and increase your activity levels. If you can’t afford the time out to spend a weekend camping, any increase in activity you can fit into your day such as going for a walk, jumping on the trampoline or kicking the soccer ball will positively influence the health of your family.
Get healthy eyes
64% of children from the age of 3 – 17 own a smart phone (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-19/childrens-eyesight-damaged-from-lack-of-outdoor-time/7040942) and spend 23 hours a week on it. There is a worrying increase of nearsightedness being seen in our Australian children due to increased screen time, and resulting strain on eyes. The outside, natural environment is really important for your eyes as you have a variance of brightness, long distance and colour that relaxes the eye. While they play, children’s eyes are more relaxed and thus get a chance to regenerate and revive. Get out to your favorite camping spot or the backyard and ban the electronic devices. A simple time out jumping on the trampoline or swinging on the swings will give untold benefits for eye health.
As you can see, getting outdoors whether it is a weekend away camping, or just a trip to the backyard or local park will have untold health benefits for your family. The team at Vuly Trampolines along with the team at Moreton Island Adventures support the community in encouraging kids and families to get outside, be active and enjoy Queensland’s great weather.
