Why Outdoor Play Matters to Your Child’s Development

Outdoor play is one of the most exciting things our children enjoy and also our biggest concern as parents.

Why wouldn’t we be? Especially after the pandemic where essentially anything you touch can be a cause of infection. There are plenty of things to worry about: plain old germs just getting everywhere, bigger kids picking on your kid, your kid putting foreign objects into their mouths, and accidents that can go from minor to major in seconds.

So, as a parent, we often had to wonder if outdoor play is even necessary given such risks. 

What experts will say is, no, it is not necessary. But imagine saying no to the bounty of benefits that outdoor play can provide. In this article, we are saying “yes” to outdoor play and a bigger “yes” to its impact on child development. Read on to find out what those benefits are and our helpful tips to ensure you make the most out of outdoor play.

Benefits of Outdoor Play

The extent of benefits that an innocent little playdate outdoors can cause is limitless. The most impressive ones are:

Gross motor development

If you have not heard what gross motor skills are, these are your kids’ abilities to use their muscles to create large movements. Some examples are walking, jumping, crawling, or dancing. So, if you want your child to be active or somehow become interested in sports, find ways to improve their gross motor skills.

Now, what does outdoor play have anything to do with them? Because by doing outdoor play, you give your child more practice to use their gross motor skills naturally. The outdoors gives them the space to develop their gross motor skills naturally as they learn to crawl, walk, run, jump, bounce and climb.

Exploration, observation, and investigation

As young children explore as they do in outdoor play, they are building blocks of knowledge in their brains. Toddlers love investigating – why do the birds fly away as I approach? Why is the cat licking her paws?

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They also observe things in minute detail. Children stay and watch a butterfly quietly as it lands on a flower, being still, knowing that movement may frighten it and cause it to fly away. Sometimes, you will find them looking at its wings and observing the myriad of colours and the beauty of the patterns on its wing. And then, as toddlers have little self-control, they may jump up at it, causing it to fly away. 

So, can outdoor play make explorers out of your kids? Yes. Yes, it can.

Resilience

Sheltered kids struggle with resilience because they do not have enough exposure to risk. And, it’s often only through experiencing risk does one’s natural instinct to fight or power through occurs.

So, in outdoor play, children fall over, get up, and the cycle repeats itself. Resilience is built as they take risks, learning by trial and error.  They understand their strengths and weaknesses as they navigate the natural environment and the playgrounds. So, by letting your kids play outdoors, you are building them up to be strong individuals.

Unstructured play

Play is unstructured when children have very few rules and the freedom to play – where they can climb trees, race each other, make up their own games, and where their play isn’t interrupted by adults. And, children need such unstructured play.

In fact, recent research suggests that children need to be engaged in twice as much unstructured play compared to structured play. 

The benefits of unstructured play are tremendous – it helps them to develop executive function skills and it enhances their focus over time.

They also engage in creative and imaginative play, try out and test different ideas, solve problems, regulate each other’s behaviour in a social setting, and learn how to play and get along with other children (without our input, unless safety is an issue). All of these are essential life skills.

Better peer relationships

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Studies have confirmed that children who got used to playing outdoors are less likely to become bullies as they age. The thing with outdoor play is your kid is going to meet different kinds of kids – kids from different cultures and backgrounds.

And as your child plays with them, they also gain better sympathy for them, lessening the chances of them someday disrespecting anyone from the same background or culture.

Getting dirty is good

Here’s a dirty little secret: getting dirty is actually good for your child’s physical health as it improves their immunity. Research shows that the benefits also relate to the emotional well-being of the child. Their “happy hormone”, i.e. serotonin increases when they are exposed to soil. Their stress levels are also significantly reduced when in green spaces.

Reduced Risk of Mental Illness

What most of us millennial parents today are trying to avoid is causing mental health issues in our kids as our parents did to some of us. So, any chance you can ensure their mental health is secure, do so. And that includes allowing them to engage in outdoor play. A study done in 2019 found that kids who are exposed to fresh air and greenery end up having stable mental health. 

Practical Tips for Safe Outdoor Play

We know you still have concerns about the safety of letting your child play outdoors, so here are some tips you can try to ensure your kid is safe and enjoys their time:

On road safety

As you walk or drive your way to the village park, make sure to orient your child about safety road rules. For instance, you ought to point out where it’s safe to walk and how to wait for cars to pass by before crossing.

Scheduled walks

Go for a short early morning walk with your child after they get up. It’s a good time for both of you to connect if you work and they go to school.

Devote a specific time of the day when your child gets unstructured outdoor play, for example, between 5 to 7 pm, while it is not yet dark and when there will be plenty of children outside to play with. Research indicates that spending at least two hours outdoors every day can help prevent myopia in children.

The right spots

Check out a few spots around your neighbourhood. You will find outdoor play areas for well-suited for kids – a park, a local playground, or the field. Let your child take the lead in choosing where they want to play.

Image Source: iStock

Making connections

Make friends with the other caregivers and children in your neighbourhood. Talk to them, be open and bring down a ball or another toy which can engage other children too. Before you know it, there will be a group of you meeting daily for some outdoor play.

Outdoor fun for everyone

Make the outdoors fun, something which the whole family can do together. Take trips on the weekends and public holidays to the surrounding islands, the beach, the nature reserve and to the water parks.

When all else fails

Bring the outdoors inside! Collect rocks, shells, twigs and flowers. This will allow your children to enjoy nature in the comfort of your home.

And that wraps up our discussion on the benefits and how-tos of outdoor play. Your concerns about the risks are normal and understandable, but hopefully, the benefits that come with outdoor play far outweigh your worries. And, should you need to be extra careful, there are plenty of ways you can avoid the disastrous from happening. 

This article was written by Shumei Winstanley, Co-Founder, Chapter Zero Singapore

Updates from Kim Brua

Miracle, Nidirect  

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