WHY OUTDOOR PLAY IS IMPORTANT AND BENIEFICIAL TO YOUR CHILDREN

These days’ playing outside is often something children miss out on. From the digital age and new technology, to our generation’s protectiveness, children can often end up staying indoors. While indoor play can be good, outdoor play has a multitude of benefits that we must make sure all children can enjoy. 

Learning new things with play 

As well as learning academically in a classroom environment, children can learn and enjoy learning more, through outdoor play. A good example of this is through play panels and playground markings. For example written things such as; the alphabet, numbers, counting, basic maths and geography can all be learnt here through play. 

Creativity, confidence and exploring

Being outdoors means less confinements and more space. This means children can develop in their creativity as to what they do and where they go when playing. The outdoor air and space stimulate creativity, with different surroundings to a classroom or home environment. This new-found confidence allows them to push their own boundaries, trying new outdoor play equipment, risk assessing new things and developing their skills.

Physical health development 

As well as academic and mental skills, being outdoors is good for your child’s health. Physical activity stimulates fitness and is better than being indoors for yours and your child’s health. Activity leads to increased bone strength and develops muscle tissue as well. It’s also good as it gives your child much needed vitamin D and activity also makes you happy.

Well-being and mental health

As well as physical health, playing outside is often associate with freedom, happiness and sophistication for your child. The natural excitement of going outside realises those all-important endorphins leaving them feeling happier and so healthier. These good mood lifting endorphins means your child’s mental health is improved and calms them down for better learning when they return indoors at school or home. Most school playgrounds have a multitude of playground activities built in now, so that children can have some time to relax and enjoy learning outdoors.

Building independence

Outdoor play also develops children’s independence because they are in a larger space, with fewer limitations, less supervision and more interaction and fun. When they are left to their own devise’s children learn to take turns on games and activities, pick themselves up when they have small trips, and become self-reliant in all the right ways.

Developing social skills

Last but by no means least, outdoor playing and playground equipment allows children to develop their social skills. They can interact with each other without a parent or guardian being by their immediate side. The open environment encourages self-assurance and determination to do new things and make new friends. The more outdoor games and activities they take part in, the more assured and friendlier they become, meeting new people and having new experiences.