National Play Outside Day: ideas for Saturday, and heat cautions

Today is National Play Outside Day, which comes around on the first Saturday of every month. The idea is simple: get outside, breathe some fresh air and move around for fun.

For families, there is a helpful benchmark. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children ages 6 to 17 get 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day. Most of it can be aerobic, like walking, running or biking, and on at least three days a week it should include muscle-strengthening play, such as climbing, and bone-strengthening play, such as jumping. Younger children ages 3 to 5 should be active throughout the day. The CDC notes that kids can reach these goals through ordinary play like tag.

Weather matters this weekend, especially in Southern California, where extreme heat warnings and watches run from Friday through next Thursday and inland temperatures are expected in the triple digits. On hot days, the early morning is the best time for outdoor play. Bring plenty of water, find shade, and take breaks before anyone feels worn out.

If it is too hot where you live, an indoor pool, a shaded park near the coast or an evening walk after the sun goes down can still count.

Pick one outdoor activity today that everyone in your home enjoys, and put it on the calendar for the first Saturday of next month too.