The simple joy of outdoor play has become a lost art. In today’s landscape, parents and caregivers often underestimate the value and importance of allowing their children time to play outside.
Spoiler alert: we think outdoor play is truly magical–something that can’t be replicated behind a screen or from inside the confines of a house. There is a vast, beautiful world full of wonder and excitement right outside our doorsteps.
Playing outside welcomes the possibility of adventure: an adventure created through imagination and creativity. There simply is no way to replicate playing outside and there are so many wonderful reasons why you should incorporate it into your routine. Let’s explore some of our favorite reasons to encourage outdoor play.
Learning
Perhaps the number one reason we love outdoor play is because of the endless opportunities for children to learn. Outdoor play is like a supercharged learning experience for kids. There truly is no better teacher than the great outdoors. Children use all of their senses to explore the world around them. From feeling the texture of leaves and rocks to hearing the sounds of birds and the wind, and even observing all kinds of insects and animals.
Not sure how to get started? Here are a few ideas to get you going:
Gardening: This is a wonderful way to teach kids how to grow their food. If you don’t have a backyard that provides enough space to plant a large garden, that’s okay–you can get creative. Utilize a couple of small pots and plant easy-to-grow produce like tomatoes or peppers. The joy and wonder children are filled with watching seeds grow into food-producing plants makes it all worth it.
Arts and crafts. Art can usually be pretty messy so why not take it outdoors? Kids love to get messy and being outside allows the space and freedom for kids to get crafty. You could easily bring art supplies like watercolors outside, and let kiddos paint on the sidewalk. Or, you could also use nature as the supplies. What kid doesn’t love making a mud pie? If you’re not up for the mess, encourage your kiddos to make a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers (dandelions totally count). Let their imaginations run wild!
Scavenger hunt: Create an easy-to-follow scavenger hunt for your kiddos. Here’s a free resource you can use to get started. Younger kids can search for easier-to-find items such as bugs, flowers, and rocks. Make it a little more challenging for your older kids–ask them to locate a specific flower, insect, or bird. We recently held a scavenger hunt at our property. Everyone had a blast! You can recap our event here.
Physical Activity and Development
Physical activity is a huge benefit to playing outside. Kids can run, jump, climb, and explore the world around them all while they are burning off energy. Playing sports outside, while a little more structured than free play, definitely contributes to building stronger bodies as well. Children are sure to develop important skills, coordination, and strength in the process of playing outside, whether through free play or organized sports.
Being in nature also provides rich, multi-sensory experiences that stimulate cognitive development in ways that indoor play simply can't match. The natural vitamin D boost from sunlight exposure (with proper sun protection) is crucial for bone health and immune system function.
Children who spend time outdoors often demonstrate:
Enhanced problem-solving skills
Improved attention span and focus
Better spatial awareness
Creativity and Imagination
The unstructured nature of outdoor play allows children to explore, experiment, and learn about the world around them in their own unique ways. When kids are outside, they have the freedom to invent their own games, explore nature, and let their imagination run wild. It's amazing to see how a simple backyard can turn into a jungle, a castle, or a pirate ship through the eyes of a child.
Relationship Building and Risk-Taking
Outdoor play provides excellent opportunities for social interaction and emotional development. While playing, children have the opportunity to interact with each other while learning how to take turns, negotiate rules, and develop important social skills. It's a natural way for them to learn about cooperation and teamwork.
When playing outside, children can:
Learn to cooperate and share with others
Develop leadership skills and self-confidence
Practice conflict resolution in a natural setting
Build resilience and learn to manage risks
Outdoor Play For the Win
Maybe best of all: you have the opportunity to make magical childhood memories with your children by taking the time to play outside with them. Making smore’s, going fishing, and going camping are all wonderful ways to foster your relationship and encourage your children to play outdoors regularly. It doesn’t have to be complicated, kids will appreciate your time and effort.
Outdoor play is more than just fun – it's a crucial part of childhood development. While it might be easy to gravitate towards staying indoors, behind a screen for extended periods throughout the day, it’s far more beneficial for you and your children to play in the great outdoors. Wilderness explorers: come one, come all. Happy playing!
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