There are many benefits of playing outside for children, including physical, social, educational, and mental health benefits. And, with children spending more and more time sitting inside using technology, encouraging them to get outside and play has never been more important.
In this blog, we outline the different health benefits of playing outside and how it can help keep children physically, socially, and mentally healthy. We also explore how you can help encourage your children to put down their screens and get active.
Physical Benefits of Playing Outside
Outdoor play can benefit the physical health and wellbeing of children. Examples of the physical benefits of playing outside include:
Encourages physical development
Children who engage in outdoor play will be presented with more opportunities to develop physically. Playing outdoors and using playground equipment like climbing frames and outdoor gym equipment will build a range of physical skills, such as strength, agility, and endurance.
Learn more about physical development in the early-years foundation stage.
Improves motor skills
Outdoor play can help children improve motor skills by providing space for them to walk, run, jump, throw, catch, and climb.
From the development of gross motor skills like coordination and balance to the development of fine motor skills like grabbing and gripping objects, children who play outdoors are given greater opportunities to practice and hone these skills.
Better general health and fitness
There are many ways outdoor play improves the general health and fitness levels of children.
Engaging in physical activity can help reduce the risk of obesity, which can reduce the chance of them developing other health issues like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease at a later date. It can also improve their stamina and aerobic fitness.
Playing outside also exposes children to sunlight, increasing the amount of vitamin D they are getting. Vitamin D is responsible for building strong bones, muscles, and teeth, as well as increasing the production of serotonin. Allowing children to play outside on sunny days ensures they are getting enough vitamin D and can help them maintain a happy and healthy body.
Social Benefits of Playing Outside
Outdoor play encourages teamwork, communication, and problem-solving with peers. There are therefore many social benefits of playing outside, helping children build strong and healthy relationships with others:
Improves communication skills
Outdoor play can encourage children to engage with their peers, getting them to communicate with each other to solve problems and role-play. Story-telling areas and outdoor theatres are great outdoor spaces for allowing children to explore their creativity and use their communication skills.
Improves relationships with peers
Playing outside helps children build stronger relationships with their peers by encouraging teamwork, communication, and cooperation. By playing together in an open, less structured environment, children are able to develop friendships in a more natural way.
Engaging in group activities and imaginative play requires children to learn how to effectively take turns, find common ground, and resolve conflicts, improving social skills and empathy.
Improves awareness
By playing with their peers outside, children can develop better awareness of themselves and others. Having to recognise social cues, body language, tone of voice, and respect personal boundaries helps children develop an awareness of their own preferences and the perspectives of others.
Builds independence
Playing outdoors in an unstructured environment gives children the freedom to explore, experiment, make decisions about taking appropriate risks, and solve problems on their own. Without constant direction from adults, children are trusted to be more independent and adapt to changing situations on their own.
Educational Benefits of Playing Outside
Engaging in outdoor play can also offer educational benefits for children, such as:
Expands learning opportunities
The unstructured nature of the outdoors offers children new ways of learning that are very different from the structured nature of traditional classrooms. There are a variety of ways outdoor learning can be facilitated, from maths-based playground activities and other playground marking game ideas to activities for improving writing outdoors.
Providing children with new, exciting ways of learning can improve their educational development, make them feel more engaged in learning, and facilitate better learning outcomes.
Find out more about outdoor learning and the benefits of outdoor classrooms.
Encourages interest in new topics
When playing outside, children are exposed to new sights, sounds, and experiences. This can spark curiosity and motivate them to explore. From developing a new interest in the bugs and creepy crawlies they find, to different plants, trees, and wildlife, spending time outdoors can help children discover new interests in topics like science, biology, and environmentalism.
Mental Health Benefits of Playing Outside
According to Mind, there are many mental health benefits of being outside and in nature, from reduced stress levels, improved mood, and help with managing symptoms of mental health problems.
Children who engage in outdoor play might experience similar mental health benefits, including:
Reduced stress
Physical exercise releases chemicals in the brain that help regulate emotions, such as stress. Outdoor play encourages children to get active, which can reduce stress levels and make children feel more relaxed.
Improved sleep
Engaging in physical activity and outdoor play can also help children sleep better. This has knock-on effects, such as better moods, improved concentration, and better performance at school.
Improved mood and behaviour
Experiencing reduced stress levels and getting better-quality sleep as a result of playing outside can improve a child’s overall mood. Outdoor play also engages them in a healthier social life, reducing loneliness and making them feel happier.
Happier and more satisfied children are also more likely to exhibit good, healthy behaviours. Outdoor play can be a way for children to let off steam, helping them regulate their emotions and behave in a more measured, less emotion-fuelled way.
How to Encourage Outdoor Play
There are different ways you can encourage children to engage in outdoor play:
- Make it comfortable: Outdoor play doesn’t have to happen in big, intimidating spaces. Encouraging your child to play outside in the garden or at the local park can ensure they feel comfortable and confident.
- Embrace their interests: Learn what your child enjoys and make sure to incorporate this into outdoor playtime. For example, if they enjoy watching football, you could invest in football nets or take them to the local football pitch to play themselves.
- Explore new places: Taking your child to new, unfamiliar places, parks, or playgrounds can make outdoor play feel more exciting, exposing them to new experiences, people, and activities.
- Get involved: Involving yourself in outdoor play with your child can make it feel more fun and exciting, helping to foster collaboration while also providing an opportunity to bond and build your relationship.
- Make it routine: Making outdoor play part of your child’s daily routine can help them build healthy habits and feel the full benefits.
Explore different outdoor play ideas here.
Create the Perfect Outdoor Playground with Sovereign Play
With over 30 years of experience in creating bespoke playgrounds for children of all ages, Sovereign Play is committed to building safe, long-lasting playgrounds that are perfect for encouraging outdoor play.
Whether you are looking for a playground for a nursery, primary school, secondary school, or local park, we have a team of experts offering a range of services, including:
Contact us online today or call our team on 01702 804200 to find out how we can help you make your dream playground a reality.
