Pediatricians’ New Prescription: Time to Play Outside

As someone who has nieces and nephews and has been to their doctors’ appointments, I’m always hearing docs stress the importance of outside play. Kids today simply aren’t getting enough. Between school, homework, and their ubiquitous electronic devices, today’s children are suffering from what psychologist Richard Louv described as nature-deficit disorder. Philadelphia pediatricians are now empowered to do something entirely new – prescribe time outdoors for their patients.

Philly pediatricians will now be able to prescribe outside play for their patients.

The Indiana Gazette caught up with physician Chris Renjilian of CHOP Primary Care as he briefed fellow doctors, nurses, and office staff on the new intervention that they will soon be offering for kids who are overweight, depressed, or in need of outside play. “As primary-care pediatricians, one of our goals is to help children get more active. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 60 minutes a day of outside play,” he said. “This is something we already spend a lot of time screening for and talking to families about.”

Now, beyond merely making recommendations to families, pediatricians can tailor custom action plans for families in conjunction with the city parks, a partnership that is called NaturePHL. Nature PHL is a project put together by CHOP, the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Department, and the National Forest Service. The idea is to give kids more time outside, which experts say is necessary for healthy development of motor skills, social competence, problem-solving abilities, and even eyesight.

The play prescriptions will begin in August as a standard part of all physicals for children aged five through twelve. It will kick off as a pilot program at CHOP’s primary-care offices in Cobbs Creek and Roxborough. According to the Gazette, ” Some — perhaps those struggling with obesity or attention-deficit disorder — will get more comprehensive counseling; a detailed park prescription for an outdoor activity such as a hike, a scavenger hunt, or a visit to a playground; and a referral to a “nature navigator.” That’s a community health worker who will help create a detailed plan, figure out how to overcome barriers to getting outside, or even join the patient on a park visit.”

In turn, pediatricians will study the long-term effectiveness of the program, by taking note of changes to the kids’ core strength, blood pressure, and cortisol levels, among other indicators.