"Don't come in until it's dark."
Do you remember playing outside until it was too dark to see? The way time seemed to stretch endlessly, with no alarms or notifications to pull you away? You’d run, climb, laugh, and invent games with friends, only stopping when the streetlights flickered on or your mum called you in for dinner.
Those were the best days—when the only rule was to be home before dark. You weren’t thinking about schedules, homework, or screens. You were just playing. It didn’t matter what the game was—hide-and-seek, tag, hopscotch, or a made-up adventure where the world outside became anything you imagined.
Now think about your child. Do they get to experience that freedom? That pure, unstructured play where time disappears? It’s easy to fill their time with structured activities, screens, and instant entertainment, but there’s something magical about letting them roam outside, make up their own rules, and decide when it’s time to come in.
Playing outside isn’t just about physical activity—it’s about imagination, problem-solving, and independence. It’s about discovering what you can do with a few friends and a whole lot of time. The world looks different when it’s lit by the last rays of the setting sun. For your child, it could be the start of endless possibilities.
So, encourage them to play outside. Let them run until the daylight fades, and see what kind of memories they make when they forget about the clock.
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