The title of this article may sound like it's aimed at those who aren't interested in their children. That could not be further from the truth. In this article we take a closer look at the importance of outdoor play.

We look at the reasons why getting your children to play outdoors could be vital to their lives. We then consider how you can go about encouraging them to spend time outside.

So to begin with, let's take a look at why it is important that they should spend time outdoors. It basically comes down to an issue of exercise. Many children simply don't get enough exercise.

We can see this by looking at a number of recent studies that show that childhood obesity has been rising. One of the major factors in this increase has undoubtedly been a lack of exercise. Should this come as a surprise?

It probably doesn't surprise many of us who are used to seeing kids sitting indoors playing video games and watching the television. Such activities involve so little physical movement that they clearly provide minimal exercise.

This is where outdoor play can really help. When children are outdoors they tend to be much more active. That seems logical but how can we encourage our kids to shun video games in favour of outdoor activities?

The key is to show them how much fun it can be to play outdoors. Playing on a trampoline, a climbing frame, swings or a slide will appeal to many. They'll soon see how much more fun those activities are than they might have imagined.

If you're worried about their safety then it's obviously important that you create a secure environment - your garden might provide the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Encouraging your kids to spend time outdoors isn't simply about making you feel better - it's about ensuring that they have a more healthy lifestyle.