Playing outside used to be the default for children.
But recent research finds that three-quarters of UK children between the ages of five and twelve spend less than an hour a day playing outside.
There are many reason for this. Busy schedules and higher screen times both play a significant part, and neither is going away.
Still, small routine changes that introduce just a little outdoor time can have a range of benefits for your child.
1. Open space gives their imagination something to work with
Most indoor toys come with a purpose in-built. A plastic fire engine is still just a plastic fire engine. Moreover, many indoor entertainments are limiting to the imagination altogether.
But playing outside can nurture a child’s imagination and help their creativity flourish. A stick is a wand; a tree stump is a fairy hideout.
When children have the freedom to explore, an outdoor play environment provides a space without limitation.
2. Risk-taking builds confidence
Risk-taking is a crucial part of every child’s physical development.
From first steps to swimming lessons, every new form of movement teaches them a greater level of control over their bodies in a new environment.
Every time they reach a little further on the climbing frame or higher on the swing is a moment that builds their confident, self-esteem, and resilience.
3. Mud, sand, and water and underrated materials
Messy play is written off as just that – messy.
But there’s something about it that children naturally gravitate towards. Pouring and mixing let children test cause and effect over and over, and watch how different materials interact with each other.
In fact, the value of these play experiences on early learning is well-recognised. Mud kitchen and timber role-play huts are a staple for Creative Play, a leading designer and manufacturer of outdoor play equipment for schools and nurseries across the UK.
4. Learning collaboration
Outdoor play is a great opportunity for children to test their social skills and learn to play nicely.
Whether it’s taking turns on the swings or deciding who’s “It” during a game of tig, playing together teaches children how to interact, negotiate, compromise, and work together to make playtime fun for everyone.
5. Bad weather is part of the deal too
If your child waits for only the sunny days to play outside, they could be waiting a while.
Wrapping up warm against the elements of the great British weather will allow them to experience the joys of jumping in puddles, seeing frost on blades of grass, and winds strong enough to lean into.
A pair of fleece-lined wellies from Muddy Puddles by the back door takes away one excuse on cold afternoons, and once you’re out, let your child set the agenda.
Making outdoor play a habit
You don’t need a big garden to get started, or a whole free weekend. Even a twenty minute detour through the park on the walk home from school counts.
What matters the most is consistency. Children settle into routines quickly, and once outdoor time becomes a normal part of the week, you’ll start to see them relish those adventures and the reap the benefits.
- Bex Smith
- Bex Smith