What are the benefits of outdoor play for my child?

As parents, we all feel great watching our children running around freely in the great outdoors, playing with their friends and getting some proper exercise. When they come back inside all bright-eyed and rosy-cheeked, it feels good to know that they’re benefitting from outdoor play like any 3-5-year-old child should!

But what exactly are the benefits of outdoor play in relation to their health? Well, not only do they benefit a child’s physical health, but also their mental health and their ability to learn altogether!

So let’s dive into a little more detail about how outdoor play can help our youngsters thrive.

How does outdoor play benefit children’s health?

In children that enjoy the outdoors, it has been proven by practitioners who have experience working with them that they simply don’t get ill as much!

For example, attendance records taken from schools during one year showed that illness in children tended to occur less that year than the previous. This was attributed to children being able to access the outdoors more often, preventing the spread of infection when spending long periods of time in stuffy rooms.

Studies have also shown that spending time outdoors can prevent or delay nearsightedness developing in a child - with just an extra 40 minutes of outdoor time contributing to a child being less likely to develop myopia.

Children have also been reported to become more robust when experiencing longer periods of play outdoors. Access to the outdoor environment makes sure that children learn how to protect themselves with the right footwear, clothing or sun creams.

Children have also been reported to have more opportunity for active play, which develops their heart and lung functions, and large muscle groups - making them altogether healthier!

Next up, let’s explore how the outdoors can change a child’s attitude in general.

Can being outdoors help to change my child’s general attitude?

Practitioners who have worked with children have noted their experience of children becoming more independent when given a choice to be indoors or outdoors and also willingly taking on responsibility for putting on their own shoes and outdoor clothing.

Children studied in this group also showed less frequent examples of challenging behaviour and an ability to resolve their own conflicts.

Many children also developed an ‘I can’ approach to learning based on their newfound confidence in outdoor environments. They also developed a sense of mastery and well-being and increased self-esteem.

Finally, let’s look at how being outdoors has been proven to help children learn better.

Can being outdoors help my child to learn?

Opportunities for children’s learning outside are everywhere. Some of the benefits in this area include:

Children who had previously never bothered to pick up a book were seen sitting and reading outside.

Children who were given opportunities to work with children older and younger than themselves appeared to play well together. This also made the transition between nursery and school a lot easier!

Through exploring outside, children could access a broader curriculum back in the classroom.

Fun Fact: Playing outdoors has been proven to have a positive impact on lessening symptoms in children with ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder).

Top Tip: We all know how difficult it can be to get your children away from screens and out into nature. A tip for ensuring that they have sufficient time outside is to involve them in everyday, outdoor activities. For example, invite them to hang clothes on the line or help with mowing the lawn.

What are the benefits of outdoor play for my child?

Read about the benefits of outdoor play before taking Unii’s Toddler Health & Development Journey.