The Benefits of Outdoor Play and How to Encourage It

1. Outdoor play encourages physical activity, which helps children build strength, improve coordination, and develop gross motor skills.

[{"selector":"#anim-7b158daa-d0a4-4ea0-a94e-2080243353d2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a1fad500-f2bd-4826-9691-293c3cb46ac7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.45394%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

2. Spending time in nature has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood. Outdoor play can also help children develop their creativity and imagination.

[{"selector":"#anim-83928fc5-307f-4ed0-8164-f8b0ca4f24fa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-95c6be14-6278-4882-9d39-9cf4299d5e97","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 121.51212%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

3. Outdoor play provides opportunities for children to interact with their peers, develop social skills, and learn how to cooperate and communicate effectively.

[{"selector":"#anim-137bd0cd-36b7-49d8-baef-5d8990bf39ff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-699553d7-1230-4ddd-a43b-41003e96ed73","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 253.84295%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

4. Outdoor play can help children develop their problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

[{"selector":"#anim-bd0acaad-3623-4c80-8240-c1b03201eb36","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-88dcd420-ace3-41e6-9a64-f5054b62f637","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 141.76806%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

5. Outdoor play enhances academic performance by developing cognitive and problem-solving skills, leading to success in the classroom.

[{"selector":"#anim-d78e8087-453d-4ae9-82f7-45aa35f6bbba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d6edfe1-fc14-49cc-a6df-146ae1fc838f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 288.55649%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

6. Create a safe outdoor environment by removing hazards and providing supervision.

[{"selector":"#anim-3949bc48-c8ed-4ddc-a1a4-758376b1358e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-adbdbd88-78bc-446d-b43c-d66516a0274c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 141.76806%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

7. Provide outdoor toys and equipment such as balls, bikes, and scooters.

[{"selector":"#anim-1b662c8b-d85f-4409-aa7f-eae0cf71d237","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f9b1df3-f6e8-409c-a3e6-7385d6a1e3bd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 141.76806%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

8. Join your children in outdoor activities to model behaviour and create positive memories.

[{"selector":"#anim-ecf47594-9f28-46b9-ab69-472ea2fd87c7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b6a1f531-62db-4198-81cc-6b12880d89a0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.66013%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

9. Provide opportunities for outdoor play by setting aside time each day for outdoor activities

[{"selector":"#anim-a928b0a5-affc-49d6-bf96-b0917fc4c86e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-337f5c8b-9e2c-4d2c-82c7-91f0a8f5dfa2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.66013%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

10. Offer a variety of outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, playing sports, or gardening, to keep children engaged and interested.

[{"selector":"#anim-40a34bfc-7d38-4927-a0e4-37a25a091c0b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-390cd28b-fe36-4fb7-8555-e0fbbf863104","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 127.97127%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

How to Teach Your Child about Financial Responsibility

[{"selector":"#anim-75fdffee-b1b7-463c-b467-274f04037f8e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3da4724-a7b8-466c-9981-847da3dddc5f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 191.64023%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more