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There are many health benefits of owning a pet. They can increase opportunities to exercise, get outside, and socialize. Regular walking or playing with pets can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels. Pets can help manage loneliness and depression by giving us companionship. Most households in the United States have at least one pet.

Studies have shown that the bond between people and their pets can increase fitness, lower stress, and bring happiness to their owners. Some of the health benefits of having a pet include:

Decreased blood pressure

Decreased cholesterol levels

Decreased triglyceride levels

Decreased feelings of loneliness

Increased opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities

Increased opportunities for socialization

However, pets can sometimes carry harmful germs that can make us sick even when the pet appears healthy. The diseases people get from animals are called zoonotic (zoe-oh-NOT-ic) diseases. Below are some tips to help you and your family stay healthy while enjoying pets.

Pick the Right Pet

Before adopting a new pet, make sure that it is the right one for you and your family. Do some research beforehand about the specific needs of the animal. Ask yourself these questions before getting a pet:

How long will this animal live?

What does the pet eat?

How much exercise does the pet need?

How large will it become?

How much will it cost for veterinary care?

Do I have enough time to properly care for and clean up after the pet?

What type of habitat does this pet need to be healthy?

What type of exercise does this pet need?

Are pets allowed in my house, apartment, or condominium?

Are there young children, older people, or people with weak immune systems who will care for or be around the pet?

Children 5 years of age and younger, people with weakened immune systems, and people 65 years of age and older are more likely to get diseases spread between animals and people (also known as zoonotic diseases). Pregnant women are also at a higher risk for certain animal-related diseases. Before getting a new pet, keep the following in mind:

Households with children 5 years of age and younger should not have pet reptiles (turtles, lizards, snakes), amphibians (frogs, toads), or backyard poultry because of the risk of serious illness from harmful germs spread between these animals and young children.

People with weakened immune systems should take extra precautions when choosing and handling pets. Talk to your veterinarian for help picking the best pet.

Pregnant women should avoid adopting a new cat or handling stray cats, especially kittens. Cats can carry a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis-a disease that can cause birth defects. If you are pregnant, you do not need to give up your current cat, but you should avoid changing cat litter.

Pregnant women should avoid contact with pet rodents to prevent exposure to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, which can cause birth defects. If you're pregnant and have a pet rodent, avoid direct contact and have someone else clean its habitat.

Stay Healthy Around Pets

Wash Your Hands

Whether you are playing with, feeding, or cleaning up after your pet, it is important to wash your hands to help reduce the risk of getting sick from germs pets can carry. If you or a family member are concerned about illness, talk to a doctor and mention the animals you've had contact with recently.

Always wash hands:

After touching or playing with your pet

After feeding your pet or handling pet food

After handling pet habitats or equipment (cages, tanks, toys, food and water dishes, etc.)

After cleaning up after pets

After leaving areas where animals live (coops, barns, stalls, etc.), even if you did not touch an animal

Before eating and drinking

Before preparing food or drinks

After removing soiled clothes or shoes

Running water and soap are best for hand washing, but you can use hand sanitizer until running water and soap are available. Adults should always assist young children with hand washing.

Keep Your Pet Healthy

Whether you have a dog, cat, horse, parakeet, gerbil, bearded dragon, or other fun pet, providing regular, life-long veterinary care is important for keeping your pet and family healthy. Regular veterinary visits are essential to good pet health. Talk to your pet's veterinarian about how to keep your pet healthy. Provide your pet with a good diet, fresh water, clean bedding, and plenty of exercise. Keep up with your pet's vaccines, deworming, and flea and tick control. Some pets can carry ticks that can spread serious diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever to people. In areas with plague-including some rural areas in the western US-fleas can be a risk to both animals and their owners.

By keeping your pet healthy, you help to keep yourself and your family healthy. Contact your veterinarian if you have any questions about your pet's health or if you think your pet may be sick.

Practice Good Pet Hygiene

In addition to hand washing, practicing good pet hygiene can help prevent the spread of germs between pets and people. Keep pets and their supplies out of the kitchen, and disinfect pet habitats and supplies outside the house when possible. Never clean supplies in the kitchen sink, food preparation areas, or the bathroom sink. Pets can contaminate surfaces in your home with germs-you don't have touch pets to get sick from their germs.

Always remove your dog's feces (poop) from your yard and public places by using a bag, and dispose of it in proper areas. Dog and cat poop can contain parasites and germs that can be harmful to people. Keep children away from areas that might contain dog or cat poop to prevent them from getting roundworms and hookworms. Cover sand boxes so cats don't use them as a litter box. Clean the cat's litter box daily to lower the chances of exposure to harmful parasites. Remember, pregnant women should avoid changing a cat's litter box if possible.

Teach Children How to Interact with Animals

Pets can teach children compassion and responsibility. However, children 5 years of age and younger should be supervised while interacting with animals to ensure the safety of the child and the pet. Teach children to wash their hands right after playing with animals or anything in the animals' environment (cages, beds, food or water dishes). Don't let children kiss pets or put their hands or other objects in their mouths after handling animals.

Adults should supervise and be extra cautious when children 5 years of age and younger have direct contact with farm animals, including animals at petting zoos and fairs.

Keep Wildlife Wild

Although they may look cute and cuddly, avoid touching wild animals to reduce the risk of illness and injury. Don't encourage wild animals such as raccoons, prairie dogs, or wild rodents to come into your home by feeding them. You might find a young animal that appears to be abandoned and want to rescue it, but often its parent is close by. If you are concerned about the safety of a wild animal, contact a local wildlife rehabilitation facility

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There are many health benefits of owning a pet. They can increase opportunities to exercise, get outside, and socialize. Regular walking or playing with pets can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels. Pets can help manage loneliness and depression by giving us companionship.

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We've long loved dogs for being man's best friend, but not so well known is that our pets can actually make us physically and mentally healthier. Just the presence of our pets can lift our spirits and help us relax.

Physical health benefits

Research has shown that owning a pet can have a number of physical health benefits:

Increased cardiovascular health (lower blood pressure, lower triglycerides and in men, lower cholesterol)

Increased physical activity. Dogs especially help us get out and enjoy the outdoors while getting some regular exercise. They are great motivators and personal trainers, never wanting to miss a training session no matter the weather.

Fewer visits to the doctor

Growing up with a dog (and other pets to a lesser extent) during infancy may help to strengthen the immune system and may reduce the risk of allergies

Children who have pets are less likely to miss days of school due to illness

The joy of having a pet isn't new to most Australians; we have one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. In fact our pets are such positive influences on our lives that one study found that Australian ownership of cats and dogs saved approximately $3.86 billion in health expenditure over one year.

Psychological benefits

Research has shown that owning a pet can have a number of psychological benefits

A study of school children showed that pet owners were more popular but also seemed more empathetic.

Those who have pets including children or adolescents have been shown to have higher self-esteem. Teenagers who own pets have a more positive outlook on life and report less loneliness, restlessness, despair and boredom.

Pet owners report less depression and appear to cope with grief, stress and loss better than non-pet owners.

Pets enhance social connectedness and social skills and are great conversation starters!

Pets are also great caregivers. They keep us company when we're sick or feeling down. They can make us feel safe while we're home alone and they keep an eye on the house while we're out.

For more details please see these useful links:
Pets improve lives Australian Companion Animal Council (ACAC)
If you are considering owning a pet be sure you contact your local RSPCA. You can view some of the animals available for adoption at the RSPCA on the Adoptapet website.

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What are the health benefits of pet ownership?

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We've long loved dogs for being man's best friend, but not so well known is that our pets can actually make us physically and mentally healthier. Just the presence of our pets can lift our spirits and help us relax.

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Moving to a new home can be exciting, especially if you move somewhere that is very different from where you currently live. It can also be stressful moving to a new environment that you are not used to. One of the biggest changes you can make in your living situation is moving from a small town or suburb into a big city like Chicago.

Moving from Suburbs and Small Towns

Many people who have never lived in a big city but have had the desire eventually succumb to the allure of city life and find themselves living in a much more populated and concentrated area than they experienced in the suburbs.

While there are plenty of people that would love to move to the city, big city life is not for everyone. It is very different than life in the suburbs or a small town and moves at a much faster pace. Like with any location, living in a major city has its advantages and disadvantages that you must take into account before ultimately deciding to ditch the suburbs for the big city lights.

The following are the main pros and cons of living in a city that you should consider before moving, even if you have always wanted to live in a major city.

Pros of Living in the City

Even though city living has its inconveniences, it makes up for these inconveniences with all that it has to offer. Big cities are major cultural centers that have vibrant art and music scenes, a wider variety of food, more places of interest such as museums, events like ball games and concerts, and a diverse population with a shared experience of city living. The following are the main advantages of city life:

1. Meeting New People

You will meet new people anywhere you move, but the experience is different in a city because major cities draw all kinds of people to them from all over the world. There are also more people in a city which means you will be encountering new faces every day. Meeting and talking to new people who have had very different life experiences than yours can be refreshing and give you a new perspective.

2. Activities

If you have lived in the same town for 10 years or more, chances are that you know the town very well and have done about everything there is to do. If you spend 10 years living in a major city, you likely won't come close to experiencing everything the city has to offer. There is always something to do in a major city to keep people of all different interests from getting bored. Most cities have a lively nightlife, different types of food to try, shows of all types, museums, landmarks, parks, festivals, sports games, and much more. If you are a visual or performance artist or a musician, there are plenty of opportunities in big cities to become a part of the scene.

3. Public Transportation

The public transportation system in major cities is a good alternative to driving yourself and dealing with the traffic and parking situation. Cities have trains or subways, buses, and plenty of taxis and ride sharing drivers so you can get where you need to go. Many public transportation options such as the bus and train are very affordable and free you of the hassle of driving. If you live in Chicago, for example, the average cost of public transpiration per month is around $82; in New York, the average cost per month is around $130 according to Expatistan.com.

It is possible to live without a car in most major cities. According to AAA, the average is $10,728 or $894 per month for owning and operating a new vehicle in 2022. It is certainly a hefty cost.

4. Big Events

The biggest events such as sporting events, concerts, festivals, and art openings happen in major cities. You can catch a concert or a baseball game without the long drives to and from the suburbs.

5. Shared Experience

One thing that can be very comforting in a big city with millions of people of different backgrounds is that everyone is sharing the same experience of living in the city. Big cities are more welcoming than many people believe and if you go to the same places and do the same activities, you will quickly meet new people who have similar interests and likely came to live in the city for the same reasons as you.

6. Free Activities

While many activities are typically more expensive due to the higher overhead costs, there's also many free things to do when they're planned well. Everything including going to the park, window shopping, visiting museums during their free admission days, and enjoying the sites downtown are all free and you can spend all day staying busy. While you won't be spending your money, you'll definitely be spending your time at these gorgeous sites, making the most out of your city-living experience.

7. Higher Salaries

Despite the high costs of living in the city, employers are usually willing to pay more. This is why many suburbanites commute to the city to get the higher pay and still enjoy the economical housing costs. Specifically large corporations like Google, Amazon and McDonald's who moved many of their corporate offices downtown are offering higher salaries with remote positions. So some employees many not have to face the commute everyday.

8. More Job Opportunities

With companies ruling the city skyscrapers, it's pretty hard not to find a job, although it may be tough to find one that pays your elevated rent cost. But a city full of companies is a city full of career opportunities. Chances are you'll find one you love. If you want to get into skilled work in technology, arts, entertainment, or business, these type of highly skilled jobs tend to concentrate in big cities.

Statistics also show that people in larger cities also find better employment opportunities than those in the suburbs or smaller towns.

9. Lots of Dining Options

There's never any shortage of authentic restaurants in the cities. From fast food chains to Mom and Pop restaurants, you're likely to find a cuisine of your liking within a mile or two.

Although dining options in the city are also usually higher due to their higher rent, many restaurants will have lunch and dinner specials as well as the availability of food stands. So you'll have to do some research to get in on the good deals.

10. Close Proximity to Airports

If you have to travel a lot for work, you'll definitely have an easier to commute to the airport when living in the city compared to the small towns. Instead of paying an Uber or Lyft for $20+, public transportation has connecting routes to international airports everywhere for just a few bucks.

Living next to an international airport will also have more non-stop flights, so you can expect to arrive at your final destination must faster.

11. Easy Healthcare Access

Healthcare access is important for many individuals when considering where to move. Living in the city also provides you with easier and better access to mental and physical health care options. You are more likely to find specialized care when needed. If you live in a big city, the medical technology is likely better and more advanced compared to rural areas.

According to Pew Research Center , the average distance to the nearest hospital is around 5 miles for urban and suburban residents, while rural residents live an average of over 10 miles away from the nearest hospital, doubling the distance.

Cons of Living in a City

People who routinely visit or work in a big city know that they can be a hassle. Major cities have more people, traffic, and neighborhoods that can make navigating through the city more difficult. The following are the main disadvantages of big city life:

1. High Cost of Living

The higher cost of living is the first disadvantage that people typically think of when considering moving to a city. Major cities always have a higher cost of living than the surrounding suburbs, and cities like San Francisco and New York routinely have the highest costs of living in the U.S. Normal living expenses such as rent and utilities tend to be higher in big cities and you may have additional living expenses you wouldn't have in the suburbs such as parking permits and laundry. Food, drinks, tobacco products, and gasoline are also more expensive in major cities.

2. Noise

In general, the noise level in major cities is higher than in the suburbs. Cities have more people and more traffic that contribute to the noise, as well as trains and nearby airports with loud planes flying in and out. Special events such as concerts and ball games can also make a neighborhood louder and more congested. Downtown areas in some major cities like New York are loud and busy almost 24 hours a day. However, it is possible to find city neighborhoods that are almost as quiet as the suburbs. Chicago has plenty of neighborhoods throughout the city that are relatively quiet.

3. Lack of Space

Moving from the suburbs to the city almost always involves downsizing your living space. Most people in major cities live in apartments and in some cities, the apartments can be very small. It is also rare to have an outside space like a yard or patio. There are homes in major cities, some with decent sized yards, but they are much more expensive than in the suburbs. If you want to move to the city, you must accept that you will be living in an apartment building with neighbors on the other side of your walls.

4. Lack of Parking

The parking situation in a major city is a huge hassle compared to the suburbs. In the suburbs, people can park in their driveways or on their residential streets and most businesses have parking lots for their customers to use. In big cities, parking is not a guarantee. Some residential streets are permit parking only which means you need to buy a permit, and streets with free parking fill up fast. It is rare for an apartment to have a designated parking space, but there are apartments that do. It is also rare for businesses to have their own parking lots which means that you will most likely have to pay to park somewhere on the street, maybe even a couple blocks away from your destination.

5. Higher Auto Insurance Premiums

If you live in the city and absolutely must have a car, congested city living will lead to a higher risk of accidents. This will then yield a higher insurance rate when living in the city compared to the suburbs.

According to ValuePenguin, drivers report paying almost $1,000 higher on their insurance premiums when living in a big city than their state's national average.

6. Higher Crime Rates

Some cities will have higher crime rates than other, but you can definitely count on these urban areas to be more dangerous than smaller towns. More people = more crime.

Higher crime rates also raise auto insurance rates, due to car theft and damage, burglaries and vandalism, according to QuoteWizard.

7. Pollution

Cities often grapple with various forms of pollution that impact residents' daily lives. The most prominent among these is air pollution, stemming from congested streets, heavy traffic, and industrial activities. Cities produce around 78% of carbon emissions and substantial airborne pollutants that affect over 50% of world's populations.

Breathing polluted air can lead to respiratory issues and long-term health problems. If you have any respiratory issues, living in the city may not be the best idea.

Move with Professional Movers

Living in a major city definitely has its drawbacks, but to some people, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages of living in a city. If you are planning to move to Chicago or another major city, it is beneficial to hire professional movers to help out.

Mid-West Moving & Storage provides residential moving services and can help you make your move from the suburbs to an apartment or condo in the city. We are trusted Chicago based movers who have been providing professional moving services since 1983.

Contact Us
Give us a call at 847.593.7201 or fill out a contact form on our website to get a free quote for your move to the city.

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Pros and Cons of Living in the City | Mid-West Moving & Storage

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Cities have tons of events & jobs that will keep you busy but the crowds and cost of living are not good. Here are the pros and cons of living in the city.

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Indiana University Bloomington Libraries Blogs

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Why Should My Child Play Outside? Benefits of Outdoor Play for Kids
(Last Updated On: April 5, 2021)
Did you know today's kids only spend an average of 30 minutes a day outside? Did you also know those same kids average seven hours in front of electronics, such as television, tablets, the computer and phones on a daily basis? There's no denying what the statistics show: Today's kids are swapping active, outdoor play for a more sedentary lifestyle that is having serious consequences for their health and overall well-being.

If you're like most parents, you probably already knew your kids tend to devote more waking hours to "screen time" than they do to outdoor play. The decline in active kids is an increased focus of influential people and media outlets, most recently by former First Lady Michelle Obama in her "Let's Move!" campaign. But, while most parents recognize their kids aren't active enough during the day, some aren't really sure why it's so important.

Most parents would agree they want their kids to be physically healthy, in addition to being well-rounded, independent and compassionate individuals. What if we told you the best way to instill these qualities in your kids was to encourage them to spend more time outside?

That's right.

By encouraging younger kids to spend more time outside and away from digital devices, you're not only aiding your child's physical well-being, but you're helping them improve their emotional and intellectual well-being, too. Whether it's a trip to the nature-inspired park or taking a hike through the woods with their family, there's no denying the benefits of stepping away from the screen and into the sunshine.

Physical Development Benefits of Outdoor Play

The benefits of outdoor play for children's development are extensive, both in early childhood and the school-age years. Why? Because outdoor play directly impacts a child's weight, physical strength and ability to fight off illness. Not only that, but kids who spend a lot of active time outdoors in their early years generally continue to be more active as they age. Encouraging outdoor play in young children helps develop a healthy attitude about maintaining an active adult lifestyle.

How does outdoor play help physical development? When compared with their peers, kids who spend more time outdoors typically exhibit:

1. Improved motor skills

Outdoor play has also been shown to leave kids with more advanced motor skills than their "indoor" peers, including coordination, balance and agility. Kids who play outside are more likely to enjoy activities like walking, running and biking. When children are outside, they have the space to run, walk, jump, swing and throw. They can play catch. They can crawl under bushes and climb trees and ride bikes. By allowing kids to test and stretch their physical abilities, they strengthen their bodies and become more confident in their movements. For kids who are athletes, extended time outdoors can also offer the opportunity and space to practice skills like batting, kicking and catching - whichever they need for the sports they're learning.

2. Lower body mass index
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In 1980, just 7 percent of kids were considered "obese." Thirty years later, studies found upwards of one in three kids could be considered "obese." The culprit of this dramatic rise in childhood obesity is twofold - Americans are eating more and spending less time being active. Kids who spend more time playing outside are less likely to be obese because they are more active. They're away from the television or computer screen. They're running, jumping, climbing and generally burning more calories than their sedentary counterparts. One study of preschool-age children showed a direct correlation between a child's body mass index and the amount of time they are permitted to be active outside. The longer the child was allowed to play outside, the lower their body mass index. Studies have also shown kids who have close friends who also enjoy playing outdoors are more likely to spend more time outside. Therefore, encouraging kids to choose active friends can also benefit them.

3. Improved overall health

Limiting a child's risk of becoming obese has many long-term health implications. Kids who are considered obese are at higher risk for problems like cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes and sleep apnea. Not only that, but exposure to sunlight improves moods and strengthens immune systems. Outdoor play has also been shown to benefit children with ADHD by giving them an outlet for the activity and energy that often creates issues indoors.

4. Improved muscle strength

Did you know when you're pushing your child in a swing, all their muscles become engaged as they figure out how to hold on, sit up and follow the movement of the swing? That's right. What most parents think of as a repetitive, sometimes monotonous, playground activity can help young children develop muscle strength. Outdoor toys like scooters, bikes and even skateboards require your child to engage and strengthen a variety of muscle systems as well.

Social Development Benefits

While there are many physical benefits to outdoor play, it provides a huge opportunity for social development in children as well. Some of the most notable benefits include:

1. Increased openness with parents and caregivers

When kids are indoors, they are often in smaller spaces and competing with other children, such as schoolmates or siblings, for attention. It can get loud and overwhelming, which often causes kids - especially younger ones - to be intimidated and increasingly quiet. That can prevent them from opening up and sharing with their caregivers. When kids spend time outside, they generally feel less overwhelmed because they are not in a confined space and competing with others for attention. This feeling of having the physical space to move and breathe often results in a child being more willing to open up and talk about things with their parent or caregiver.

2. Greater self-awareness

Kids who play outdoors are more likely to develop stronger reasoning and observation skills. As we mentioned earlier, a playground activity like swinging has many physical benefits for kids, but it also gives them the opportunity to explore the world from a different perspective. It shows them how to be aware of the space they're in and understand the concept of "cause and effect" as they see what happens when a grownup pushes them.

3. Appreciation for the environment

In one study, 87 percent of individuals who spent time outside as a child carried a love of nature into their adult years. Of those same people, 84 percent said they still considered the environment an important priority. The reason for this is simple: By spending a lot of time outside, children learn to appreciate the environment because they have firsthand knowledge of plants and animals. They've watched squirrels chasing each other up a tree. They've witnessed a sunset. They've caught ladybugs. They've planted flowers, climbed trees and explored parks. As they grow, their fond memories of their childhood experiences lead them to more awareness and compassion to preserving the spaces they loved as children because they know the value of it.

4. Improved peer-to-peer relationships

Not only are kids who play outside more self-aware, but their awareness of others and their feelings increase as well. Studies have even shown that kids who play outdoors are less likely to bully other children. Outdoor play often requires imagination and teamwork, which helps children have positive interactions with each other. That doesn't mean there won't be arguments over whose turn it is to go down the slide or shoot a basket, but, in general, kids who consistently play outdoors are more likely to get along with their peers and find common ground. Of course, it doesn't hurt that soaking up all that sunshine improves their moods as well. It's harder to be angry at someone when you're in a good mood!

Emotional Development Benefits

In addition to the physical and social benefits of outdoor play, children who play outside regularly also tend to be stronger emotionally and more able to process things as they grow.

1. Use of all five senses

Preschoolers who watch a lot of TV are only using two of their senses - sight and hearing. That can really limit their ability to process and respond to sensory stimuli they encounter as they grow. On the other hand, children who play outside are using all their senses by exploring the outdoors - perhaps even taste, as they catch snowflakes or raindrops on their tongues. For younger children, this familiarizes them with a variety of sensory experiences, so they are better able to process them as they continue to grow and develop.

2. Develop a sense of independence

Being outside has been shown to help children develop their sense of independence. Even though a parent is usually close by, generally children feel a sense of freedom when they're at the park that they don't experience elsewhere. They get the chance to explore and take limited risks without feeling like an adult is breathing down their neck. They can invent games with their friends, explore their boundaries and figure out what they're capable of doing. The confidence that results from this will help them as they continue to learn and grow. They can try tasks and activities they wouldn't be able to do inside and apply problem-solving strategies to questions like, "Can I climb across those monkey bars?" or "Can I reach that net if I jump high enough?"

Intellectual Development Benefits

Many parents think the best way to develop their child's intellectual abilities is to spend more time learning in an organized classroom environment. But did you know encouraging your child to spend time outside is also a great way to develop their intellectual abilities? In fact, outdoor play has the following key benefits.

1. Aid with brain development

When kids are running around outside, they are are inventing games, exploring the world around them and experiencing feelings of independence. Besides developing these feelings of autonomy, they also cultivate their organizational abilities and decision-making skills as they work both individually and with their peers to create games, solve problems and implement their ideas and solutions. As kids play, they also learn more about the importance of creating and following rules.

2. Improve communication skills

When they're on the playground or at a park, kids have so many opportunities to meet other children and cultivate friendships with them. They meet people who are different than they are and develop the skills they need to play successfully with many different children. While parents do facilitate this to a degree, especially if they arrange playdates with friends to meet up in an outdoor space, often playgrounds and other common outdoor spaces allow children the space they need to practice meeting and developing friendships without assistance from their parents.

3. Expanded learning space

Putting educational toys and materials outdoors gives kids a chance to learn new information and skills by playing. It also shows kids they can learn anywhere, not just in classrooms and indoor learning spaces. For example, as they keep score during games, they are strengthening their ability to count and learning about relationships between numbers as the score increases.

Importance of Outdoor Play for Younger vs. Older Children

It's no secret kids play differently at different stages of their lives. You can't expect a 2-year-old to play the same way as a 6- or 8-year-old. But, even though they'll show different interests depending on their developmental stage, children of all ages can benefit from outdoor play. That's true not only during their younger years, but as they continue to grow and become adults.

Between the ages of birth and 2 years old, children are limited in what they can do outside, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't have the opportunity. At that young age, most kids will explore or play on their own, developing their senses and acclimating to what's around them. Around 2 years old, parents may notice their child observing older kids at play, although they will most likely still prefer to play on their own. During the early toddler years, you may notice your child progresses from observing other children to choosing to play nearby.

Once kids move into the preschool phase at 3 to 4 years old, they will begin to show signs of interacting, although it will still be limited. You'll notice a group of kids may all be playing on a jungle gym, but one will be on the slide, while one is climbing a ladder and another is doing something else. Then, once kids enter school, you'll notice much more of a tendency to play games and organize activities together, such hide and seek and other outdoor activities.

While outdoor play will look different as children grow and change, it's important for parents to remember ALL outdoor activity is beneficial to children. While a 1-year-old may not be able to swing on monkey bars or slide down a slide alone, they are learning a slide feels smooth, sunshine is bright and birds live in the trees around the park where you go to explore.

Encouraging Kids to Play Outdoors

Whether your child is 2 or 12, it's important to encourage them to spend time away from the screen and to enjoy the outdoors. Exploring parks and playgrounds can be just the way to help your kids enjoy being outside, whether they're playing alone or with their friends.

Miracle® Recreation is one of the biggest and oldest manufacturers of playground equipment in the world, but don't let our age fool you. We're proud to say we continue to be one of the top industry leaders in both innovation and safety. We love that we get to make products that are such an important part of your child's development - and we don't take that responsibility lightly. For more information about our products and services, or to request a free quote, check out our website today!

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Why Should My Child Play Outside? | Benefits of Outdoor Play

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(Last Updated On: April 5, 2021) Did you know today's kids only spend an average of 30 minutes a day outside? Did you also know those same kids average seven hours in front of electronics, such as television, tablets, the computer and phones on a daily basis?

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Zoos have existed in some form since at least 2500 BCE in Egypt and Mesopotamia, where records indicate giraffes, bears, dolphins, and other animals were kept by aristocrats. The oldest still operating zoo in the world, Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna, opened in 1752.

The contemporary zoo evolved from 19th century European zoos. Largely modeled after the London Zoo in Regent's Park, these zoos were intended for "genteel amusement and edification," according to Emma Marris, environmental writer and Institute Fellow at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. As such, reptile houses, aviaries, and insectariums were added with animals grouped taxonomically, to move zoos beyond the spectacle of big, scary animals.

Carl Hegenbeck, a German exotic animal importer, introduced the modern model of more natural habitats for animals instead of obvious cages at his Animal Park in Hamburg in 1907. That change prompted the shift in zoo narrative from entertainment to the protection of animals. In the late 20th century, the narrative changed again to the conservation of animals to stave off extinction.

Controversy has historically surrounded zoos, from debates over displaying "exotic" humans in exhibits to zookeepers not knowing what to feed animals. A gorilla named Madame Ningo, the first gorilla to arrive in the United States in 1911 who was to live at the Bronx Zoo, was fed hot dinners and cooked meat despite gorillas being herbivores, for example.

The contemporary debate about zoos tends to focus on animal welfare on both sides, whether zoos protect animals or imprison them.

Should Zoos Exist?

Pro 1

Zoos educate the public about animals and conservation efforts.

As of Apr. 2021, there are 241 accredited zoos in the United States. The zoos attract over 181 million visitors annually, which is more than the approximately 131 million yearly spectators of the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB combined.

According to a study of 26 zoos worldwide published in Conservation Biology, visitors to zoos increased their knowledge of biodiversity and specific individual actions to protect biodiversity.

Robin Ganzert, PhD, President and CEO of American Humane, stated, "zoos provide people, especially impressionable children, with the opportunity to see these remarkable animals up close. People won't protect what they don't love, and they can't love what they don't know. No matter how closely programs like Planet Earth depict animals, nothing will match the bond of seeing them in real life. Just look at a child's eyes at the zoo when he or she encounters a tiger or similarly majestic animal."
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Pro 2

Zoos produce helpful scientific research.

228 accredited zoos published 5,175 peer-reviewed manuscripts between 1993 and 2013. In 2017, 173 accredited US zoos spent $25 million on research, studied 485 species and subspecies of animals, worked on 1,280 research projects, and published 170 research manuscripts.

Because so many diseases can be transmitted from animals to humans, such as Ebola, Hantavirus, and the bird flu, zoos frequently conduct disease surveillance research in wildlife populations and their own captive populations that can lead to a direct impact on human health. For example, the veterinary staff at the Bronx Zoo in New York alerted health officials of the presence of West Nile Virus.
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Pro 3

Zoos save species from extinction and other dangers.

Corroboree frogs, eastern bongos, regent honeyeaters, Panamanian golden frogs, Bellinger River snapping turtles, golden lion tamarins, and Amur leopards, among others, have been saved from extinction by zoos.

Zoos are also working to save polar bears, tigers, and wild African elephants from habitat loss, apes and rhinos from poachers, dolphins and whales from hunters, and bees and butterflies from population declines, among many other efforts to help many other animals.

Przewalski's horses, the last wild horses, were declared extinct in the wild in the 1960s when about 12 lived in zoos. By 2018, breeding programs at zoos increased the number to 2,400 horses, and 800 were reintroduced to the wild.
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Con 1

Zoos don't educate the public enough to justify keeping animals captive.

A review published in Animal Studies Repository concluded, "to date there is no compelling or even particularly suggestive evidence for the claim that zoos and aquariums promote attitude change, education, and interest in conservation in visitors." Even a study widely cited to justify the argument that zoos educate the public stated, "there was no overall statistically significant change in understanding [of ecological concepts] seen" because visitors know a lot about ecology before going to the zoo.

TV shows such as Planet Earth bring wild animals into living rooms, allowing people to see the animals in their natural habitats without causing harm to animals such as the endangered snow leopard. Romesh Ranganathan, a British comedian, stated, "It still slightly surprises me that anybody thinks that we should have zoos at all. The animals always look miserable in captivity... [T]he idea that kids only get excited about things they can see in the flesh is ridiculous. My kids are obsessed with dinosaurs that no longer exist, and Skylanders, which have never existed."
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Con 2

Zoos are detrimental to animals' physical health.

A study of 35 species of carnivores, including brown bears, cheetahs, and lions, found that zoo enclosures were too small for the animals to carry out their normal routines, which led to problems such as pacing and more infant deaths. Polar bears, for example, had an infant mortality rate of 65% due to small enclosures.

About 70% of adult male gorillas in North America have heart disease, the leading cause of death among gorillas in captivity, although the condition is almost completely absent in the wild. Other great apes have similar health problems in captivity.

Captive elephants live about half as long as wild elephants: 18.9 years v. 41.7 years for Asian elephants and 16.9 years v. 35.8 years for African elephants. Of 77 elephants in 13 zoos, 71 were overweight and spent 83% of their time indoors, contributing to early death.
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Con 3

Zoo confinement is psychologically damaging to animals.

A study of captive chimpanzees found that "abnormal behaviour is endemic in the population," and includes behaviors such as eating feces, twitching, rocking back and forth, plucking hair, pacing, vomiting, and self-mutilation, among others. The study concluded that the cause of such behavior could be mental health issues.
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Discussion Questions
1. Should zoos exist? If you believe they should, consider whether they should remain the same or change. If you believe they should not, consider how else to accomplish zoo's conservation efforts.

2. Extend the debate to other human-made animal habitats, such as safari parks and animal sanctuaries.

3. What other conservation efforts are important to saving wildlife? Explain your answer(s).
Take Action
1. Analyze " Eight Reasons Zoos Are Good for Conservation " from conservation scientist James Borrell.

2. Consider the pros and cons with a video from Above the Noise.

3. Explore conservationist Damian Aspinall's opinion that zoos are "outdated and cruel."

4. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? If so, how? List two to three ways. If your thoughts have not changed, list two to three ways your better understanding of the "other side of the issue" now helps you better argue your position.

5. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives.
Sources

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Proponents say zoos educate the public about animals. Opponents say wild animals should never be kept captive.

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Zoological gardens are a controversial component of human society. They provide a safe refuge for endangered or injured animals, but these parks can be abusive in their treatment of creatures as well. Some zoos even put humans on display involuntarily, keeping them in cages well into the 20th century. All animals in a zoo or menagerie are kept in an enclosure, displayed to the public, and given access to veterinary care.

More than 180 million people visit the zoo in the United States each year. The first gardens were started in 1828 in London to help with scientific research, and then it opened its doors to the public for the first time in 1857.

Some zoos are calling themselves a “biopark” or “conservation facility” as a way to remove themselves from the negative connotations of the past or the institutions that do not treat their animals correctly today.

The idea of keeping animals to display is not a new one, with excavations in Egypt suggesting that a menagerie of elephants, wildcats, and hippopotami were kept in Hierakonpolis. It was known that King Ashur-bel-kala built a botanical garden and zoo in the 11th century BC, while Empress Tanki in China built a refuge for deer in the 2nd century BC. By the 4th century BC, almost all Greek city states had their own zoo as well.

List of the Advantages of Zoos

1. There are multiple types of zoos to visit around the world.
We have moved away from the traditional zoological park to create habitats that replicate nature to the best of our ability while still maintaining the protective qualities that some animals need. There are still the standard settings where an animal lives in an enclosure or housed in buildings that protect them from humans and vice-versa to create safe viewing experiences.

These are the additional options that are available today.

Safari parks keep animals in larger outdoor enclosures and use moats or fencing instead of cages to keep visitors safe. You would then drive through the facility to come into close contact with the animals.

Roadside zoos are small, for-profit facilities found in rural areas that bring you into close contact with the animals.

Petting zoos feature livestock, farm animals, and other domestic creatures that offer low-risk settings for close encounters.

2. Most animals are not sourced from wild captures.
Before the year 2000, there were still zoos operating on the principle that they could develop exhibits based on the types of animals they could capture. Except for a handful of facilities in southeast Asia, that is no longer the case. Most of the animals that are on display were either injured and could not return to the wild or were born in captivity. When zoos transfer animals, they take appropriate quarantine measures to ensure that an illness does not come into the facility. This trading process eliminates the idea of an open market, so profits are taken out of the equation.

3. Zoos are useful as an educational tool.
When families visit the zoo, they get to witness animals which may not be possible to view in their local region. There is the controversial entertainment consideration about going to a facility to look at animals for fun, but there is also the chance to learn a lot of valuable information about each species.

Most zoos offer tours that can take you behind the scenes so you can see how trainers feed the animals and work with them. There are information points that you can find along the way so that children and adults can increase their knowledge. It is usually easier to retain info when you can interact with the animals instead of seeing their picture in a book.

4. These facilities help us to conserve endangered species.
Zoos have brought several animal species back from the brink of extinction. The Arabian oryx was hunted to extinction in the wild, but the Phoenix Zoo worked with other conservationists to bring the species back. Przewalski’s horses were also extinct in the wild but are now coming back to a population in the thousands after only a dozen were left. California condors were down to 27 before facilities in Los Angeles and San Diego started breeding programs to protect them.

Several other animals can take credit for their survival thanks to zoos as well. The Corroboree frog, bongos, Regent Honeyeaters, and the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle have all benefitted from the conservation process.

5. Zoos provide an economic boost to their community.
Zoos can be a local, national, or international attraction that people want to see. These attractions are often safe spaces for young families to come out and enjoy a day together. School trips come out to these facilities as a way to help kids learn more about the animals. The facilities create good-paying jobs, encourage entrepreneurs to be active in their community, and provide indirect benefits to local businesses as well.

6. Animals receive the veterinarian care they might need for their survival.
Most zoos in the United States (roadside zoos can be an exception) have on-site medical facilities and care options for every animal in the facility. If there are any health concerns that come up, then the vets can provide the necessary intervention almost immediately. When you are managing some of the rarest or most endangered creatures in the world, this advantage makes it possible to halt extinction events in some situations.

Vets also design breeding programs that can help the numbers of a specific animal species to begin recovering. There are regular assessments for infectious disease, parasites, and other concerning health dangers that wouldn’t be available in the wild.

7. Zoos are typically required to provide specialist care to each animal species.
It requires a lot of in-depth knowledge to understand the exact needs of the animals which are cared for by the modern zoo. Handlers must know about their behaviors, their dietary requirements, and the health symptoms that necessitate a call to the on-staff vet. It is a unique opportunity for students to study and train with the animals they love so that they can help the species later in life.

Many zoos work with local universities and colleges to provide internships, allowing the next generation of caretakers to know how to protect the animals and their environment.

8. An accreditation process exists for zoos.
For zoos to continue operating, they must go through a rigorous accreditation process that verifies they follow the correct conservation and breeding program procedures. There must be evidence of security, proper daily care, and cleanliness to earn certification as well. Inspections occur regularly to ensure compliance with the program. If the facility fails to meet the expected standard, then they can lose their license to operate. Should that event occur, the animals will transfer to a different zoo.

The primary accreditation programs recognized in the United States is the Zoological Association of America, the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

9. Many of today’s largest zoos help to create undergraduate programs for future caretakers.
One of the most notable zoos in the United States, the Smithsonian National, works with local educational institutions to create undergraduate zoological degree programs. They have also partnered with universities and colleges in the area for graduate and doctoral studies. There is even a training program for veterinary students where real-life practicums occur on the grounds. All of these options would not be possible without the presence of a zoo.

Although some critics might argue that these positions would be unnecessary without the zoo being there in the first place, that isn’t necessarily true. Zoos help animals in the wild too, and this advantage makes it possible to treat the injured.

List of the Disadvantages of Zoos

1. When animals are born in captivity, they become dependent on humans.
The reason why most of the animals that are in zoos today are the offspring of captured animals from the generation before is the fact that the descendants are unable to cope in the wild by themselves. Having a successful breeding program can save a species, but it can also create lucrative profit opportunities for the businesses involved.

Unless there are specific, protected areas for the animals, such as the Przewalski’s horses being released into the Chernobyl exclusion zone, most will fail to make the transition. That means the animal has no choice but to stay in the facility for the remainder of their life.

2. There is an ethical question that we must answer.
Most wild animals thrive when they can live in their natural habitat. When we bring them into an enclosure of any type, then it can have a direct and adverse impact on their health. Orcas are an excellent example of this issue. Their lifespan sees a reduction of 70% when they live in captivity.

The best manmade habitats are not a suitable substitution for the ones that animals can find in the wild. Although injured animals can rehabilitate successfully in many situations with the help of a zoo, keeping an animal enclosed for the rest of its life is a challenging ethical question that all of us must answer.

3. Zoos can struggle to stay profitable.
Many zoos are failing to meet their annual financial targets. Even popular facilities are seeing lower visitor numbers, which translates into less money going toward the care of the creatures living at the facility. When expenses exceed incoming revenues, then animals might need to go to other zoos. Staff shortages and limited budgets can even mean euthanizing some of the animals if another appropriate living space cannot be found.

In January 2016, a lion ruled to be excessive was euthanized in a small Danish zoo. Then staffers performed a public dissection on the animal. In 2014, a facility in Copenhagen shot a young giraffe, dissected it in public, and then fed the pieces to their lions. Then these actions are justified by the idea that if some money isn’t raised, they’ll need to do the same thing to all of the other animals at the facility.

4. The enclosures at a zoo alter the natural behaviors of the animal.
There are some animals which are not built to withstand the conditions found at your normal zoo. Hibernating animals and those who follow specific migratory patterns struggle the most. Large animals can also see changes in their behaviors because they don’t have enough room to move around. Elephants are usually the subject of this disadvantage since their artificial habitats are almost always too small and the fences restrict their natural desire to migrate.

When an elephant is unable to accomplish instinctive tasks, it has an emotional reaction that is similar to what humans would experience in that situation. The only difference is that there are a couple thousand extra pounds of aggression to manage with the animal.

5. Zoo animals can have health issues that wouldn’t come up in the wild.
There are times when the efforts of a facility to mimic an animal’s natural environment just doesn’t work. Polar bears are used to arctic temperatures, so having one live in an environment that is hot with high humidity can placed added stress to their health. Penguins typically endure frigid temperatures with their mating processes, but then get stuck in tropical climates where the only place to cool down might be a small blast freezer.

The natural environment is more than a few trees, a large rock, and a pool to use that has a high enough of a fence to keep humans away from them. The climate and weather are part of their natural habitat as well. This disadvantage can create significant health problems for some animals.

6. A zoo can be focused on the profits instead of the welfare of the animal.
Conservation facilities and breeding programs are a way to save endangered animals, but they can also become a marketing gimmick. Customers need to come through the doors to help a zoo stay financially sound. Because of the ethics of animal captivity, more people are staying away from these facilities today than in the past, which emphasizes the need for survival. The behind-the-scenes practices can make few efforts to live up to the morals and ethics of animal care.

This disadvantage means that it is up to each of us to work with local facilities who have a mission to protect animals and to do so in the right way. When we can work together, we can save or conserve many species.

7. Zoos cause the life of an animal to become secondary to the life of a human.
In one fateful week in May 2016, one gorilla and two lions were killed after humans entered their enclosures. Harambe was killed after a 4-year-old boy fell at the Cincinnati Zoo into his enclosure, even though animal experts observed the behavior and noted that there was an attempted to protect the boy. Six days before this incident, a pair of lions in Chile were shot after a suicidal man entered their enclosure, became naked, and tried to get the animals to eat him.

When the lions dragged the man to their den, the zoo intervened – and saved the man’s life. There was a 2012 incident when an African painted dog was shot after a 2-year-old toddler fell over a wooden railing that his mother placed him on top of in Pittsburgh. Then there was the horrific incident in 2007 in San Francisco when a Siberian tiger leaped out of her enclosure after a group of people were throwing rocks at the animal. She mauled the entire group, killing one before a police officer shot the animal.

8. Zoos may set the wrong standard for the next generation.
Our children will learn from our example when looking at the advantages and disadvantages of zoos. Do we go to these facilities to support the scientific and conservation process? Or do we make it more about entertainment than education?

If we go to a zoo to look at animals who are not free to roam about, then it is important to remember that a very nice enclosure is still a cage. We may have created dependencies that require some animals to stay in captivity, but that doesn’t mean we need to create another generation that faces the same risks. If we are willing to accept these results with animals, some critics of zoos fear that it wouldn’t take long to think the same way about human beings.

9. Conservation programs do not guarantee the survival of a species.
Giant Pandas are in zoo conservation programs around the world, generating money for China in the process. Until the 1990s, only 3 in 10 attempts at breeding were successful in confinement. Even if the first stage of the process was successful, only 40% of the cubs would make it through their first days of infancy.

Today’s zoos have more than doubled the survival rate of these animals, but it also creates a situation where there is yet another issue of dependency. The cubs that are born in captivity cannot return to the wild. That means they will rely on us for their survival for the rest of their life.

10. Our good intentions and expert care is not always enough to support animals in a zoo.
Maggie the Elephant lived in Alaska, which is arguably the worst place on the planet to keep such an animal. Conservations cared for her since the age of 1 after her entire family was culled. She shared the space with an Asian elephant named Annabelle from 1938 to 1997, but then Maggie lived alone. She had to endure long winters on unheated concrete. It took several years for the facility to build a custom treadmill, but she refused to use it. By 2007, she was found lying on her left side and unable to move.

Now Maggie lives in an animal sanctuary in a better climate and her health is much better. She’s not the only animal in this situation though. That’s what the challenge of zoos ultimately involves. We often think that our efforts are good enough for the animals without taking their stories into consideration.

Verdict on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Zoos

Zoos are one of those parks that people either love to visit or hate because of the ethics involved with such a facility. Although the cost of spending a day outside with the animals is increasing, there are thousands of these organizations around the world who are doing their best to help the injured, save the endangered, and restore natural habitats.

The modern zoo wants to sell you a story of empathy and refuge. When public dissections or euthanasia occurs, that narrative goes away. The standing of an animal is highly dependent on the financial outlook where it lives.

There are 321 members of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria that transfer animals for no fee, with the receiving institution responsible for shipping costs. The advantages and disadvantages of zoos will always take on a personal tone. Some people support the concept, while others would prefer that these facilities go out of business. Maybe there is some middle ground to find.

Author Biography
Keith Miller has over 25 years of experience as a CEO and serial entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, he has founded several multi-million dollar companies. As a writer, Keith's work has been mentioned in CIO Magazine, Workable, BizTech, and The Charlotte Observer. If you have any questions about the content of this blog post, then please send our content editing team a message here.

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Zoological gardens are a controversial component of human society. They provide a safe refuge for endangered or injured animals, but these parks can be abusive in their treatment of creatures as well. Some zoos even