Benefits of Outdoor Play for Kids

by Team Flockmen June 1, 2022

Photo: Alens Līdaks

Today’s kids spend so much time in front of electronics - television, phones, tablets. Children become less and less active as they grow older. And the time they spend playing outside is a small part of the day.

Every parent wants their kids to be physically and emotionally healthy. They want children to be happy, creative and be lovers of nature and the world around them.

When I started researching various materials related to this topic, I realized that we also spend too little time playing outside. This prompted me to write this article because I saw the importance of this topic. And I hope it makes you think a little as well! :)

The Benefits of Outdoor Play!

Photo: @mansondust

The benefits of outdoor play for children’s development are extensive, both in early childhood and the school-age years. It is important for the physical, social, and emotional development of children. When a child plays outside at the playground, they get to explore their physical capabilities in new ways without the restrictions of indoor play. They get more fresh air and can explore their environment more..

I found seven different reasons why playing outdoors is so good for our kids.

1. BE HEALTHY!

This is probably the most important reason for playing outside. The extra space and new experiences outside encourage children to be more active and therefore build stronger bones and muscles. Active play outdoors helps reduce obesity as well. Gives kids a Vitamin D boost, builds better immunity and promotes better sleep.

2. NATURE IS ALL AROUND US! Learning about the world and nature.

Spending time outdoors, kids will connect with nature in a personal way. Watching things happen around, exploring the environment, regularities, they will love nature. As being a part of nature, they will feel the desire to protect it for themselves. And children who identify with nature are more likely to become adults who appreciate nature and want to protect the environment.

3. IMAGINATION, CREATIVITY.

Photo: @purplepandacompany

Playing outside is a great way to encourage the development of your child’s imagination. It helps to boost children’s creativity by giving them the ability to create their own games with their own rules. When children play outside, they have the opportunity to take their surroundings and create their own story, imaginary world. The outdoors can provide children with a whole host of learning opportunities as well.

4. EMOTIONAL BENEFITS.

Kids can play more independently. They are inspired and empowered to be themselves whatever their imaginations conjure. Additionally, fresh air and free play reduce stress levels. In fact, studies of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) found that children with ADHD who spent significant time outdoors exhibited fewer symptoms.

5. SENSORY EXPERIENCE.

Photo: @inspireplaycreate

Smelling a range of smells, seeing the lights and shadows, hearing sounds filling nature and touching things around with different textures (grass, rocks, trees..).

Sensory play is a type of play that activates and stimulates a child’s senses. Often, sensory play focuses on stimulating touch, sight, and hearing as those senses are most accessible. Sensory play offers children a unique opportunity to engage with the world in a way that helps them grow and develop. This kind of active play helps to create connections in the brain that allow for increasingly complex thoughts and tasks.

6. EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS.

Learning room is all around nature. With countless opportunities to explore, learn, watch and try. Playing outside is an important break from classroom learning. And after playing outdoors children perform better socially and cognitively. And most important - learning is more fun!

7. SOCIAL SKILLS and PROBLEM SOLVING.

Young children develop social skills by practicing them in everyday situations, for example on the playground. Talking, playing together, conflicts, problem solving, apologizing and many other different situations encountered in the kids playground. But for sure playgrounds can be for more than just play. These environments are an excellent opportunity for social interaction, and they offer a context for children to learn about one another.

No matter what the weather brings, playing outside is good for kids. It's good for our kids physical and emotional health, development in general and it's so much fun! It gives your child the chance to explore the natural environment and have adventures! Being happier! Being creative! And being themselves!

Author: Sintija Mediniece

Used materials:

www.bkkkids.com

littletikescommercial.com

https://news.sanfordhealth.org/