By William Rowen Healthy Roar reporters | You already know that planting trees is good for the environment, but it’s also good for the people who live nearby, according to experts.

Less crime, feeling safer, more people spending time outside playing, and getting exercise all happened after planting trees turned empty city lots into beautiful spaces, according to studies conducted in Philadelphia by Michelle Kondo, a researcher with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.

Some other benefits of spending time outside include reducing stress and blood pressure, putting you in a better mood, and giving a boost to your immune system, says Nature Rx: Go Out and Play by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The Schuylkill Center, and City of Philadelphia.

“The guidelines say you should get 60 minutes of exercise and physical activity every day. You may be active at gym time or during school. It should add up to 60 minutes each day,” said Dr. Akash Kanneganti, a resident doctor at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.

Dr. Akash also said you can get vitamin D from the sun, which is good for bone growth and brain development.

Dr. Rob Schlitt, another St. Christopher’s resident doctor, said you can do more outside because there is more space. “You don’t have to worry about kicking a soccer ball and breaking a lamp if you play outside,” Dr. Rob said.

Playing video games and puzzles uses your brain and hand-eye coordination (the way your brain and eyes work together to do things that require speed and accuracy, according to merriam-webster.com).

But when playing outside, “you can use your body more, spread your wings, and build muscles,” Dr. Akash said. Dr. Rob added, “sometimes asthma is worsened by staying inside too much.”

Some kids are tired after school, but Dr. Akash said, if “you can go outside for a quick walk with a pet, that’s good to get your body moving a little bit. Even a little bit is better than nothing.”

Illustration by Ty’Liyah, Wm. Rowen E.S., 2023–24.