Benefits of Playing Outdoors
Marietta Rice, Parent Educator

Recent brain research has confirmed what parents and early childhood teachers have known for years – children learn through play. Hands-on activities that children choose freely increase their skills in all areas of development. The importance of outdoor play has also been acknowledged and widely studied. These findings are a wake-up call for all parents and teachers raising a generation of children who have less and less contact with nature. (Read Richard Louv’s book: "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder")

Benefits of Playing Outdoors

The Green Hour Web site (www.greenhour.org) summarizes the benefits for children who regularly spend unstructured time outside. These children:

• play more creatively,
• have lower stress levels,
• have more active imaginations,
• become fitter and leaner,
• develop stronger immune systems,
• experience fewer symptoms of ADHD,
• have a greater respect for themselves, for others and for the environment.

Barriers to Being Outside

Unfortunately, there are things that make it difficult to get outside with our children. What are these barriers and how can we overcome them?

• Schedules – both parents and children have calendars that might be too busy to include unstructured outdoor play. But given the real benefits, we can choose to schedule a “green hour” into our family’s day.
• Technology – Toys and screens (TV, video games, computers, etc.) encourage us to stay inside. Children and adults need breaks from these screens to they can return to their tasks refreshed.
• Distance – Sometimes our “green” spaces are a long drive or bus ride away. However, maybe just a walk around your block or neighborhood would be a good way to start.
• Comfort Zone – Times have definitely changed from our parents’ and perhaps our own childhoods. We have more fears and safety concerns than in the past. We need to keep our kids safe, but not make them afraid of being outdoors in nature.

Though these can be barriers to getting our children outside, by problem solving we can continue to experience the rewards playing outdoors bring to both parent and child.

Exploring Nature with Toddlers

What can we do outside with preschoolers? Remember, play is unstructured time and all we need to do is provide:

• the place — back yard, park, a walk around the neighborhood,
• enthusiasm and permission to explore safely.

There really is no need for tools or toys. Watch and see how creative young children will be with a stick or a rock. Pine cones can become both “people” and “walls to the castle” once the creative juices get flowing. Here are some ideas for younger children.

Follow your children around at their pace.

Let your child pick up natural items.

• stones and rocks
• sticks and twigs
• leaves
• sand
• dandelions
• what else will they discover as treasures?

Use all of your senses with your child.

• What do you and your child smell?
• What do you and your child see?
• What do you and your child hear?
• When your child picks up something, describe how it feels!

Look for animals.

• Listen to them.
• Talk about their colors.
• What are they doing?
• Make up a story about them!

Further Information:

www.greenhour.org

www.nwf.org

www.childrenandnature.org

http://www.wbu.com/pathwaysforkids/index.html

www.allianceforchildhood.org

www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=the-serious-need-for-play&print=true

Additional Resources:

High Scope Education Research Foundation and Exchange:  "Promoting the Value of Play" book on CD

Louv, Richard: " Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder"