Outdoor Play and Its Role in Children's Development

​​From playing videogames to watching cartoons on Netflix, many children seem to be spending more of their time indoors instead of playing outside like in previous generations. Because of this, a lot of studies have been conducted to highlight the adverse effects of increased time indoors and proper play space designs on children's wellbeing and development.
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Also, there has also been increased research on the many benefits of spending time outdoors. 

Here are some of them:

Outdoor play results in physically healthier children
For activities such as running, jumping around, climbing things, throwing and catching balls, lifting and pulling things, and carrying random objects, there is no place better than the outdoors. Because all of these require motor skills, children get to improve their abilities through constant practice.

In addition to gaining new skills, they also get enough aerobic exercise to stay healthy. When children spend more time burning calories outdoors, they lower their risks of developing obesity while strengthening their bones and muscles.

Also, playing outdoors means they are exposed to the sun. And yes, too much sun exposure can increase the risk of developing skin cancer. However, our bodies still need the sun to make vitamin D - an essential vitamin that contributes to some important body processes.

It also has a crucial role in our immune system, sleep patterns, and mood. When we get regular sunshine, our bodies function a lot better.

Outdoor play plays a role in cognitive and social or emotional development
The best types of outdoor plays are the unstructured ones because these allow them to develop several behavioural skills, such as taking turns and sharing with other children. When they are outdoors, they have more chances to be inventive and curious about the things around them.

This, in turn, encourages them to utilise their own abilities. They can come up with their own play games with their friends or siblings, and these interactions with other children around their age will allow them to improve a number of important life skills, such as cooperation, communication and organisation.

In addition, staying outdoors means they get more fresh air, which can reduce their stress levels.
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Outdoor play teaches children to take risks
It is crucial for children to learn how to take some risks, even at an early age. Of course, as parents, this could cause some anxiety. After all, we all want our little ones to stay safe. But, if parents only let their kids in their comfort zones and never allow them to take any risks at all, they wouldn't know their real abilities and would grow up clueless.

They will not have the right amount of confidence and bravery to face life's challenges when they get older. Failures and rejections are part of life - for children, it could be breaking an arm from climbing a tree or getting rejected when they tried to make new friends.

​These, however, don't mean they should give up and never try again. These are important lessons that will help them later on in life.

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by IC Mag contributors