Families for Life P.L.A.Y. Camps are back with this June, with specially curated programmes focused on parent-child bonding led by experienced instructors, allowing you to enjoy the great outdoors in a safe environment without the fuss of planning it yourself. Sign up now to reserve your spot for weekend #FamilyTime here!

The inertia to leave the comforts of your own home can be great but spending some time in the great outdoors has many plus points – it boosts children’s development, enhances adults’ wellbeing and improves bonding within the family.

Camping gives your family the opportunity to spend some time close to nature which does wonders for physical and mental health, and promotes overall wellbeing.

Being in nature without all the modern comforts of your home encourages bonding as everyone pitches in to get tasks done without the convenience of electronic appliances or gadgets.

Less distractions allow for longer, more meaningful conversations which boost emotional connections.

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of a family camp during the school holidays!

1. Nature Boosts Physical Health

Nothing beats fresh air and sunshine to make us feel better. Exposure to sunlight helps to boost your mood and makes you feel calm and relaxed. Vitamin D from sunshine also helps build strong bones in children (and adults) and reduces risks of flu and diabetes.

Exposure to sunlight is one of the therapies used to treat depression. More importantly, being in nature forces you to get off your coach to move your body.

Your children will also have space to move about and engage in active play, boosting their stamina and improving their overall wellbeing.

2. Unplugged for Enhanced Cognitive Function

Without multiple devices beeping and the multitude of chores calling out, you can let your brain rest and enjoy being in the moment. Too much screen time contributes to increased feelings of anxiety, poor sleep and even neurological issues.

Unstructured outdoor play encourages young minds to be inventive, explore and learn more about the world around them. It also improves their sensory skills and encourages them to actively use their natural abilities.

3. Appreciation for Nature

What better way to teach children about our natural world than letting them experience it for themselves? Playing in the sand, walking amongst trees, chasing the tide, and watching insects and animals in their own habitats will help them better appreciate nature and learn to protect it.

4. Enhances social connections

Camping in the outdoors gives you a break from the modern lifestyle and allows you to focus on connecting with fellow campers. Without distractions from the TV or computer games, you have the opportunity to talk and listen better to your family members.

"It's not easy to turn away from this kind of stimuli -- we're wired to connect," explains HuffPost President and Editor-in-Chief Arianna Huffington in a HuffPost blog. "But the connection that often comes from technology is not only an unfulfilling, ersatz version of connection, it's a siren call (or beep, or blinking light) that begins to crowd out the time we have for real connection. Even worse, it begins to rewire our brains to make us less adept at real connection."

These days, camping outdoors is a lot more comfortable with clean sanitation within walking distance and ready-made tents with comfortable beds. You don’t have to rough it out to enjoy the benefits of being in nature.