Children experience freedom when they play outside. Outdoor play is a natural way for children of all ages to do physical activity. It’s good for children’s health and well-being to be physically active through play. Being active burns energy and can help prevent illnesses in adulthood.
Benefits of outdoor play on children’s health
Children can improve their health and fitness through outdoor play and leisure activity. The freedom and space of being outdoors can encourage more expansive movement leading to good physical exercise and helping prevent obesity.
When they play outdoors, children have fun and benefit from:
- running and chasing which can develop good physical fitness, agility and stamina
- jumping and running which can develop bone density, large muscle groups and stability
- climbing which candevelop coordination, balance and strength
- time away from busy routines and time-tables
- freedom to shout, make noise and let off steam
Being outdoors is good for eye health. Spending time outdoors reduces short-sightedness (myopia) in children and young people.
Benefits of outdoor play on children’s well-being
Playing outdoors allows children to develop self-confidence, independence and self-esteem. They also become aware of limits, boundaries and challenge in their play.
When children are used to playing outdoors, they are more likely to:
- try new activities
- engage with others
- solve problems
- explore the natural environment
- make friends
- show resilience
Doing physical exercise every day
As they grow up, children experience rapid and different physical and psychological changes. These changes can influence their future health and well-being.
For physical health and mental well-being, it’s important that children get physical exercise.
By getting regular exercise through play, this can prevent illnesses as an adult including:
- obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
- heart disease
- cancer
Pre-school aged children who can walk independently need to do physical activity for at least three hours every day. Children aged between five and 18 need to do vigorous activity for at least an hour every day.
Making time for playing outdoors
Children playing outdoors enjoy running around, climbing, balancing, dancing, digging and jumping. Parents should allow children space and freedom to play outdoors.
Encourage children to do traditional activities such as:
- skipping
- hopscotch
- kerbside
- tag
Playing in the neighbourhood
Get to know your neighbourhood by walking and cycling in the area. Bring your children so they know areas suitable for playing. Agree where they can play and where they must not go. Speak to other parents about allowing their children outdoors to play.
Staying safe outdoors
Teach your children how to stay safe outdoors when they’re young. Show them road safety skills. If you're worried about your child’s safety, stay nearby where they’re playing.
Playing outdoors in all seasons
Whatever the weather, dress your children so they can go outdoors and play.
Wear warm clothes on cold, wet days.
Put sunscreen and hats on your children when the weather is hot and sunny.
There are different things to do outdoors such as:
- jumping in puddles
- flying kites
- building dens
- melting ice
- playing in snow
Limiting children’s screen time
To encourage your children to go outdoors, you should limit their time on digital screens, including mobile technology and televisions.
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FAQs
Benefits of outdoor play on children's well-being
- try new activities.
- engage with others.
- solve problems.
- explore the natural environment.
- make friends.
- show resilience.
More outdoor time is linked with improved motor development and lower obesity rates and myopia (nearsightedness) risk. Safely getting some sun also helps us make vitamin D that our bodies need to stay healthy and strong. More engaged in learning.
What is the importance of outdoor play? ›
Playing outside comes with many physical benefits, and it also provides a remarkable opportunity for children to develop socially. Playing together with their peers allows kids to learn important social skills like empathy, cooperation and friendship, which could help them to succeed later in life.
How long should a 13 year old be outside? ›
Your child or teenager will still get the vision, eye health and physical health benefits of time outdoors without excessive risk of sun exposure. Kids should be physically active for least 60 minutes a day. This should be moderate-to-vigorous level activity.
Why playing outside is more fun than inside? ›
Playing outside gives your child the chance to explore the natural environment and have adventures. Your child can play games, test their physical limits, express themselves and build their self-confidence. Outdoor play can also mean more mess – and more mess often means more fun!
What are 3 benefits of going outside? ›
help you take time out and feel more relaxed. improve your physical health. improve your confidence and self-esteem. help you be more active.
What are the benefits of playing? ›
Play improves the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and young people. Through play, children learn about the world and themselves. They also learn skills they need for study, work and relationships such as: confidence.
Why are kids not spending enough time outdoors? ›
A variety of factors are contributing to this decline. With more extracurricular activities and school pressure children are increasingly over-scheduled and enjoy less free time in general. Time spent on computers and media entertainment has risen significantly.
Why is it important to spend time outdoors? ›
So, stepping outside can help you keep a healthy weight or even lose weight by increasing activity levels. Studies have also shown that being in nature has a positive effect on our bodies by reducing cortisol levels, muscle tension, and demands on our cardiovascular systems (lowers heart rate and blood pressure).
Why is outdoor activities better? ›
Spending time in nature and the natural light can improve your mood and reduce stress and depression. Engaging in physical activity produces similar benefits and often times relaxes and cheers people up. Your self-esteem will improve. Outdoor exercise stimulates all five senses in a way that indoor activities cannot.
When children engage in physical activities outside, they can release endorphins and serotonin that can help them to process their emotions. Outdoor play also enables children to develop important social skills, such as cooperation and communication, as well as to foster self-confidence.
Is it OK to leave a 14 year old at home? ›
Sixteen states require or recommend a minimum age – from 6 to 14 – at which parents can leave a child at home alone, according to a March 2023 aggregated report. California is one of 34 states that has no minimum age requirement or recommendation.
Should kids play outside every day? ›
School-aged children need about three hours of outdoor play each day. While this is a lot to add to a daily schedule, the activity will contribute to the physical and emotional health of your child.
What are the benefits of outdoor play? ›
Here are seven benefits of outdoor play:
- Help your baby sleep better at night. ...
- Outdoor play is a fun way to learn. ...
- Developing motor skills. ...
- Encourages a healthy lifestyle. ...
- Care for the environment. ...
- Positive impact on the whole family. ...
- Make new friends.
As children spend time outdoors, they are moving more, climb trees and jump in puddles, there is a slightly bigger chance that they get injured. They are also more exposed to potentially unhygienic items. Both of these safety risks are closely managed by kindergarten or preschool.
How is playing outside healthy? ›
Build physically healthier children.
Children playing outside get aerobic exercise and gain skills, such as pushing and pulling outdoor play equipment. Studies show children burn more calories outdoors, helping to prevent obesity and strengthen bones and muscles.
Why don't kids play outside? ›
Parents worry about many safety concerns that impact the time their children spend outside, such as traffic, crime, strangers, injury, and nature itself (e.g. skin cancer due to sun exposure, bug bites, and harmful animals.) Technology. Children spend more and more time focused on screens instead of nature scenes.
Why is it important to play games outside? ›
Why outdoor play is important. Unstructured physical activity improves the health of your child. It reduces the likelihood of obesity and weight-related health concerns which are becoming bigger issues for families today. Outdoor play also improves mental health as a result of physical activity.
Why do children prefer to play outside? ›
Spending time outdoors isn't just enjoyable — it's also necessary. Many researchers agree that kids who play outside are happier, better at paying attention and less anxious than kids who spend more time indoors. Spending time in nature can build their confidence.
Why outdoor activities are good? ›
Spending time in nature and the natural light can improve your mood and reduce stress and depression. Engaging in physical activity produces similar benefits and often times relaxes and cheers people up. Your self-esteem will improve. Outdoor exercise stimulates all five senses in a way that indoor activities cannot.
Playing outside is fundamental
All children and young people have the right to play and the right to learn as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Children.
