Developing Healthy Kids Through Outdoor Play: Healthcare Provider Questions
Write A Prescription for Healthy Lifestyles
Patients view their health care providers as the authoritative source for key health care information. One way providers can emphasize the need for a healthy lifestyle is to give their patients a written prescription as a follow-up to the office visit.
The questions listed below could be a used to assess and prescribe a healthy family lifestyle:
- How much time does your child spend outdoors each day?
- at daycare or school:____________________
- in the afternoons/after school: ____________
- in the evenings: _______________________
- What types of physical exercise does your child get each day? How many minutes each day, on average?
- How much time does your child spend in front of a screen each day?
- Watching television: ______________
- Playing video games: _____________
- Using a computer: _______________
- What types of “unstructured” play does your child get? How often? Note: unstructured play can range from playing “make believe” or other games with friends to going on a nature walk.
- Do you have a family herb or vegetable garden – either in the yard or on window sill or balcony? If so, what do you grow and do you use it in food preparations? Does your child willingly eat vegetables?
- What types of activities do you do together as a family? How often?
Use these recommendations on your prescription:
- Walk outdoors for at least ____ minutes daily
- Walk or bike to a local destination (school, store, park, etc.) ___ times/week
- Hike ___ times/month
- Schedule active outdoor play for at least ___ minutes daily
- Limit TV & screen time to no more than ____ minutes daily
- Play outdoor games ___ times/week
- Expand your mind by cloud gazing ___ times/month