5 ways outdoor play benefits your children

If you love to be outside with your kids and love to incorporate outdoor play into your daily routines, you probably already instinctively know that outdoor play has certain benefits for children. But it is even scientifically proven that playing outdoors and spending time in nature is good for kids – in many different ways.

So, by spending time outside together, you did not only find an amazing way to spend family quality time, but you are actually even doing something great for the development of your children. Even more, reasons to plan your next trip!

In this article, we want to look at the five most important (and scientifically proven) ways outdoor play benefits your children and how you can take advantage of this.

Outdoor play can prevent nearsightedness

Studies have shown that outdoor play can prevent children from developing nearsightedness. The reasons for this are not completely clear, but one of the theories is, that more sunlight might stimulate the eyes at a young age. Another reason might be that kids that play outside do not read that much or stare at screens – so their eyes get a break.

The effect of outside play on nearsightedness is very clear cut. In a study in China by He et al., an added outdoor play of 40 minutes per day resulted in a reduced incidence rate of nearsightedness in these children in the next three years.

Nearsightedness or myopia is mainly hereditary, so outdoor play might be even more important for your children if this runs in your family. Playing in the daylight might not avoid the condition completely, but it can probably postpone its onset and make life easier for your kids.

Exposure to sunlight boosts the immune system and Vitamin D production

We all instinctively know that exposure to sunlight – in a healthy amount – is good for us. Being outside in the sun lifts our spirits and gives us the strength to power on. But there are actually some scientifically proven reasons why sunlight – or daylight in general – is good for us. This is especially true for kids.

Being out in the daylight, even if the sun is hidden behind some clouds enhances our Vitamin D production, and Vitamin D is crucial for many important bodily functions. Specifically, in the winter in higher latitudes, it can be very difficult to get enough exposure, so it is especially important to get the kids out even if it is cold outside.

Vitamin D does several things in our body, but specifically for kids, it is important as it promotes healthy bones and teeth and the development of a healthy nervous system. It can also regulate insulin levels. And finally, it can also reduce the risk of getting the flu – and isn’t that something we all would like to avoid?

Exposure to the sunlight of course also comes with dangers, so you should always be careful that the kids are appropriately protected with sunscreen, clothing, and a hat when they are outside for longer periods of time.

During outdoor play, kids learn social behavior and problem-solving skills

Outdoor playtime is often way more unstructured than indoors, as kids run free and keep themselves entertained with what they can find along the way. If they have the chance to play in a group, even better! This way they learn to be creative with what they have, work and play together with others and solve problems together. All these things are really beneficial for their future lives!

Unstructured playtime outside really helps children to develop executive functions and self-regulation. These are the skills that will help them in the future to be able to manage their own lives, make plans, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. These things have to be learned, and outdoor play gives children plenty of opportunities to practice them.

When in a group, they also need to learn to share, compromise, combine their ideas and solve conflicts without parental guidance whenever possible. This makes them much more independent and gives them the people skills they will also need later on in their lives.

Exercise during outdoor play is of key importance

During outdoor play, kids tend to get more exercise. Studies have shown that the more time kids spend outside, the more they exercise – at least in many cases. Some kids still might need some additional motivation to actually get moving while outside, but the trend is clear. If there are appropriate spaces and even better if kids can go out with their peers, they will move around more.

At the same time, moving and playing outside gives them more opportunities to climb, jump, run, and balance – things that are super important to learn how to control your body and to keep it healthy.

Being more active has many health benefits, especially for kids. We all know that it boosts the immune system and is a great remedy for child obesity, but it also has some benefits for the brain. It can significantly boost cognitive performance and just gets out that extra energy so kids can focus better when needed. And starting to incorporate exercise in their daily schedules at an early age can make it so much easier to keep doing so their entire lives – with all the health benefits that come with that.

Outdoor play teaches responsible risk-taking

This is a tricky one. As parents, we want to keep our kids safe – and that sometimes means, that we want to keep them away from risks. But taking risks, understanding them, and sometimes failing and getting hurt is part of life – and something children have to learn. It is part of growing up and teaches important lessons for the future.

Outdoor play can encourage this – as long as we as parents are strong enough to let go to some extent. As long as children do not put themselves into outright dangerous situations, taking some manageable risks will teach them how to deal with these situations later on. Does that mean that they will come home with scratches and bruises sometimes? Yes, probably. But the learning effect of trying something and experiencing their own limitations is huge!

If you are looking for some ideas for your outdoor play now, check out this list of outdoor activities in summer or this great one about games to play in the woods with kids – an amazing time outdoors is guaranteed with these ideas.

So these are some of the benefits of outdoor play for your children! And of course, there is something else – the more time they spend in nature, the more they will feel a connection to nature and will want to help to protect it. So, if you want to raise a little conservationist, outdoor play and exposure is a great way to achieve this!