The Benefits Of Outdoor Play For Childhood Development

Kids need to be immersed in the outdoors, dirt, and the nitty-gritty of the outside world for their well-being. In today’s world, far too many kids are doing the opposite, indoors. The benefits of outdoor play is of lesser value to the education system as academic outcomes take priority.

This leaves the onus on parents and caretakers to be stewards of their child's “outdoor” development.

Fret not, as this is precisely how it should be. If you want to get your children playing outside, you’re on the right track.

While reading this guide, grab a pen and paper or open a new note on your device. I’m going to share 30 benefits of outdoor play. For each one, ask yourself, “how does my child stack up in this area?”

By the end, you may have 3-5 different benefits that could transform your child's life.

Physical Development

12.7% of young children and over 40% of middle-aged adults in the US are obese. There’s no better tool to combat these frightening numbers than outdoor play. Healthy adults had ample opportunity as children to build gross motor skills through running, jumping, and climbing. This is not something that can wait.

Cardiovascular Health

More and more kids have risk factors for heart disease (HBP, obesity, etc). Because of the prevalence, children are waiting up to a year to see a cardiologist. This is a shame because outdoor play is one of the best ways to improve cardiovascular health.

Regular outdoor play promotes aerobic activities like running and jumping, strengthening the heart and improving cardiovascular fitness.

Better Sleep

Humans use sunlight as a primary cue for circadian rhythm by detecting light through the eyes, which signals the brain's suprachiasmatic nucleus. This regulates the sleep-wake cycle by influencing hormone production, like melatonin, aligning our internal clock with the day-night cycle to optimize sleep, alertness, and overall functioning.

The facts are in, children who don’t spend time outside have a tougher time sleeping.

Bone Density

Outdoor play strengthens children's bones and supports overall skeletal development. Physical activities like running, jumping, and climbing enhance bone density and strength and ensure they get ample Vitamin D from sunlight, which is essential for calcium absorption and bone health.

Balance & Coordination

Balance and coordination are skills that impact many aspects of day-to-day lives. Good gross motor skills make everyday tasks easier, build confidence, and help avoid injuries. Engaging in activities like balancing on beams or navigating uneven terrain improves children’s balance and coordination.

Metabolism

Metabolism is the process by which the body converts food and drink into energy. It includes all chemical reactions that maintain life, supporting growth, repair, and energy production. A healthy metabolism affects children by driving their growth, energy levels, and overall development.

More screen time for children has shown to have harmful effects on children including the increased prevelance of metabolic syndrome.

Motor Skills

Motor skills are the abilities required to control and coordinate the body's movements. They include gross motor skills like walking and jumping, involving large muscle groups, and fine motor skills like writing and buttoning, involving smaller muscles. These skills are crucial for daily tasks and physical development.

You cannot generate a full spectrum of motor skills in a lab. Children need unstructured play to explore movement freely and develop motor skills in a natural, enjoyable way. Playing in the unpredictable outside world puts skills through trial and error.

Spacial Awareness

Spacial awareness is the ability to understand the position of your body in space. Activities like climbing, running, and navigating spaces improve spatial reasoning, helping children understand the relationship between objects and their environment.

Immune Development ( NK Cells )

NK (Natural Killer) Cells are a type of white blood cell. They are part of the innate immune system, the body's first line of defense against infections and cancer. NK cells recognize and destroy infected or cancerous cells without prior sensitization.

Spending time outdoors, particularly in natural environments like forests or parks, has enhanced the activity of NK (Natural Killer) cells. This phenomenon is partly due to exposure to phytoncides- antimicrobial compounds released by trees and plants.

Did you know that the vast majority of cancer cells you develop will be killed without you ever noticing? This is largely in part thanks to developing a strong immune system.

Emotional Development

Outdoor play allows kids to explore and express their feelings in a natural setting. As children engage with the outdoors, they encounter challenges that help build emotional resilience, teaching them to manage frustration, fear, and excitement.

The unstructured nature of outdoor play allows children to experience a sense of autonomy and control, which boosts their self-esteem and confidence. Additionally, the calming effect of nature helps reduce stress and anxiety, promoting a sense of well-being and emotional balance that is crucial for healthy emotional growth and stability

Builds Self Esteem

Low self-assurance fosters insecurity, which in turn rears unbecoming childhood emotions and behaviors. Accomplishing tasks like climbing or navigating obstacles boosts children’s confidence in their abilities, fostering a positive self-image.

Overcoming Fears

Navigating safe risks in outdoor play helps children learn to manage fear and develop courage, which is important for emotional growth. Outdoor play can provide a supportive environment where children feel safe to express and overcome anxieties.

Concentration

Most behavioral problems manifest indoors. The best remedy is to send children outside and let them burn off energy. How often are energetic children disciplined by taking away their outdoor time and recess? This is the worst thing you can do for a child.

Engaging in outdoor play can help regulate emotions and improve attention span, leading to better emotional regulation.

Stress Management

Outdoor play reduces stress for children by offering a natural, calming environment where they can express emotions freely. Physical activity, like running and climbing, releases endorphins, improving mood. The unstructured nature of outdoor play fosters creativity and independence, helping children manage anxiety and build emotional resilience in a soothing setting.

Resilience

Outdoor play helps children develop resilience by exposing them to challenges, such as climbing or navigating uneven terrain, which require problem-solving and perseverance. Facing and overcoming these obstacles builds emotional strength and confidence. The freedom of unstructured play also allows children to navigate risks, adapt to change, and learn from failures.

Independence

Outdoor play fosters independence by allowing children to explore and make decisions on their own. Unstructured playtime encourages self-directed problem-solving, helping them navigate challenges and take calculated risks. This autonomy boosts their confidence, strengthens decision-making skills, and empowers them to trust their instincts, leading to greater self-reliance and independence.

Social Development

Outdoor play is crucial for children's social development, providing opportunities for interaction and teamwork in a natural setting. Children learn essential social skills through group activities like sharing, cooperation, and communication. Imaginative play outside encourages role-playing and conflict resolution, enhancing empathy and social understanding.

These experiences help children form friendships based on shared interests, fostering a sense of belonging and community. Exposure to diverse social situations in outdoor environments also teaches adaptability and effective communication. Overall, outdoor play equips children with the social skills necessary to build solid and meaningful relationships.

Sharing & Cooperation

Outdoor games often require teamwork, teaching children how to work together toward a common goal.

Outdoor activities often require sharing resources and taking turns, teaching children patience and fairness.

Express Emotions

Outdoor environments provide a safe space for children to express their emotions freely, whether through physical activity, creativity, or play.

Develop Empathy

Interacting with peers in a shared outdoor space helps children understand and respond to the emotions of others, fostering empathy.

Form Friendships

Shared outdoor activities create opportunities for children to form and strengthen friendships, building a sense of belonging.

Communication

Playing outside with peers promotes verbal and non-verbal communication, helping children learn to express their needs and listen to others.

Conflict Resolution

Outdoor play often involves disputes that children must navigate, teaching them how to resolve conflicts peacefully.

Role Playing

Imaginative play outside allows children to experiment with different social roles, enhancing their understanding of social dynamics.

Leadership Skills

Children often take on leadership roles during outdoor play, learning to guide and support their peers.

Intellectual Development

Outdoor play stimulates curiosity and critical thinking. In nature, children are free to explore and experiment, building problem-solving skills as they navigate one challenge after another. Through imaginary scenarios, they can be an astronaut for the day. Or they can fight crime and arrest Bonnie and Clyde with their friends.

They can be whoever they want to be through the power of unstructured play. The world is their construction zone, mentally and physically as plants, animals, and natural materials enhance their cognitive processes such as memory, attention, and spatial awareness.

Problem-Solving Skill

Outdoor play often involves challenges and risks, like climbing or navigating uneven terrain. These experiences help children develop critical problem-solving skills, assess risks, and build confidence in overcoming obstacles.

Encountering obstacles during outdoor play, such as figuring out how to climb a tree or build a fort, challenges children to think critically and develop problem-solving strategies.

Hands-On Learning

Outdoor play often involves tactile experiences, such as touching plants, digging in the dirt, or building with natural materials, which reinforces learning through direct interaction.

Cognitive Flexibility

Navigating changing outdoor conditions, like adapting to weather or different terrains, helps children develop cognitive flexibility, the ability to think adaptively and creatively.

Risk-Taking

Children need a safe environment to develop risk-taking skills. The kicker is this, that environment needs to be unpredictable enough to simulate real life. Outdoor play helps children develop risk-taking skills, explore boundaries and face challenges.

Climbing trees, balancing on beams, or running through a forest teach them to assess situations, make decisions, and build confidence in their abilities, fostering a healthy approach to taking and managing risks.

Creativity

Outdoor play fosters creativity by providing an open, unstructured environment where children can use their imagination freely. Nature offers endless possibilities for creative exploration, from building forts with sticks and leaves to inventing stories inspired by the surroundings.

Children can think outside the box, develop original ideas, and experiment with different roles and scenarios. The natural world’s diverse textures, colors, and shapes also stimulate sensory experiences, further fueling imaginative and creative thinking in children.

Curiosity & Exploration

Outdoor play naturally sparks curiosity by immersing children in ever-changing environments full of new sights, sounds, and experiences. For instance, a child exploring a garden might discover insects and become fascinated by how they move or interact with plants. This curiosity drives them to ask questions, seek answers, and learn more about the world.

Curiosity fuels their desire to learn, leading to intellectual growth and a lifelong love of discovery. Successful people are almost always curious, constantly seeking to understand and innovate. Fostering curiosity in childhood sets the foundation for a future filled with exploration, creativity, and success.

Improves Memory

Memory and recall are skills we take for granted. Outdoor play enhances children's memory by engaging them in activities that require recall and repetition. For example, playing games like hide-and-seek challenges children to remember hiding spots and strategies, strengthening their memory.

Younger generationss of children may be accustomed to instant gratification and have shorter attention spans. This digital dependency can hinder their ability to retain and recall information effectively. For concerned parents wanting their children to grow up with stronger cognitive skills, as they did, encouraging regular outdoor play is the way to go.

Test Scores

In our classroom driven education system, the effect of outdoor play on test scores is overlooked. Physically, unstructured play and physical exercise increase blood flow to the brain, promoting better memory retention and stress reduction.

Exposure to nature also stimulates curiosity and problem-solving skills, leading to improved academic performance. Integrating outdoor play into daily routines helps children absorb information more effectively and boosts their ability to concentrate during exams.

Measuring materials, cutting, and aligning pieces help children improve their math and measurement skills.
Understanding the principles of balance, stability, and load-bearing while building these structures introduces kids to basic engineering concepts.
Nature-based elements like bird feeders or planting areas can teach children about the environment and biology.

Mental Health

Good mental health enables children to cope with stress, build positive relationships, and develop into well-adjusted adults. Unfortunately, children today face unique mental health challenges different from those that we did. The rise of social media, increased academic pressures, and reduced opportunities for outdoor play contribute to higher levels of anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues among children.

Between 2007 and 2017, experts noted an increase in pediatric suicide. This numbers exploded during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among individuals aged 5-24 in the United States.

Outdoor play can serve as a powerful protective factor, providing children with a natural outlet to relieve stress, express emotions, and develop resilience. The unstructured nature of outdoor play encourages children to take risks, solve problems, and build confidence.

Modern education system’s focus on academics at the expense of playtime. Schools that cut recess to prioritize test preparation are inadvertently harming children’s mental health, as studies link reduced physical activity to increased behavioral problems and lower academic performance. Parents, too, face challenges as screen time replaces outdoor play, leading to shorter attention spans and heightened anxiety. By prioritizing outdoor play, we can help foster healthier, more resilient children who are better equipped to handle the complexities of modern life.

Environmental Awareness

Spending time outdoors helps children connect with nature, fostering a sense of responsibility and care for the environment. They learn about the natural world firsthand, which can instill a lifelong promise of environmental stewardship.

Makes Parenting Easier

Outdoor play simplifies parenting by naturally addressing common challenges like screen time, sleep issues, and emotional regulation. As children explore and engage with nature, they become more independent, resilient, and socially adept, reducing the need for constant supervision and intervention. This fosters a more harmonious and stress-free parenting experience.

Reduced Screen Time

Limiting screen time reduces the battles over devices and encourages healthier habits. In return, children develop better social skills, improved physical health, and stronger attention spans.

Excessive screen time can lead to behavioral issues, sleep disturbances, and difficulty focusing. Previous generations had fewer digital distractions, so screen time management is a new challenge for modern parents.

Improved Sleep Quality

Children who play outside sleep better, leading to fewer bedtime struggles. What do your kids get out of this? Better sleep supports growth, cognitive development, and emotional stability. Poor sleep can cause irritability, difficulty concentrating, and behavioral problems.

You see, children are not like cats, who can spend all day indoors and still sleep sound at night.

Emotional Regulation

Outdoor play helps children manage emotions, reducing tantrums and emotional outbursts. They develop resilience, better coping mechanisms, and a more balanced emotional state. Children may struggle with anxiety, stress, and emotional dysregulation, leading to more challenging behaviors.

Increased Independence

Children who play outside gain confidence and self-reliance, requiring less constant supervision. They learn to solve problems, make decisions, and trust their abilities. Overdependence on parents can hinder a child’s growth, leading to insecurity and less autonomy.

Better Social Skills

Outdoor play promotes interaction with other children, reducing the need for parents to mediate social conflicts. They develop communication skills, empathy, and the ability to navigate social situations independently.Children may struggle with forming friendships, experience social anxiety, and have difficulty in group settings.

In the past, children naturally socialized in neighborhoods, whereas today’s parents must often arrange playdates and structured social interactions. Incorporating ample outdoor play into your child’s routine not only benefits them but also makes the parenting journey smoother by addressing many of the challenges that modern parents uniquely face.

How The Bijou Build Transforms Outdoor Play

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, creating a haven for your family is more important than ever. One way to achieve this is by investing in outdoor play structures that not only enhance your home's value but also contribute significantly to your child's development and well-being.

At Bijou Build, we believe in the transformative power of outdoor play, and here are compelling reasons why incorporating our play structures adds immeasurable value to both your home and your child's childhood.

Turn Your Backyard Into An Imagination Land

Modular Design With Endless Possibilities
Climb, Swing, Play, Or Relax In The Shade
Durable Material W/5 Year Manufacturer's Warranty
Easily Set Up, Move, Tear Down, & Store
Aesthetically Pleasing… No Eyesores Here!

The Bijou Difference