January 09, 2019
The Importance of Outdoor Play for Children
Joseph Hilton Pearce once said that “Play is the royal road to childhood happiness and adult brilliance”. This quote resonates with us at Faire Child because we believe it is so important for children to be able to play and more specifically, play outside. We have touched on this topic before with blog posts about getting your child outdoors to play or the negative effects of too much screen time but today we are going to be looking at the benefits that playing outdoors can provide.
- Physical activity means better sleep. Kids that sit less and move more are less likely to be sleep deprived.
- Playing outside has been shown to boost self-esteem and confidence.
- Playing outside has positive effects on mental health. In fact, beginning in the 1870s, the Quakers’ Friends Hospital in Pennsylvania used acres of natural landscape and a greenhouse as part of its treatment of mental illness.
- Exercise. Exercise is an important part of a child’s development and can improve cardiovascular health and help your child maintain a healthy weight.
- Risk taking. You might be wondering how this would be a benefit but according to the Harvard Medical Journal, it is important for children to take some risks because it allows them to grow and understand the world around them better.
- Socialization. Playing outside is important for a child’s social development. It can help them learn to work better with others. Playing outside tends to provide more freedom and less structure which helps children learn to work with others according to the Harvard Medical Journal.
- Love and respect for nature. Playing outdoors allows a child the opportunity to be more involved with the natural world around them which can help cultivate an appreciation for nature.
- It has been found that children who play outside have better reasoning and observation skills
We hope you found this blog post informative. If you are interest in having your child spend more time outdoors, we love this resource on the Canadian 24-hour Movement Guidelines. Help walk your kids through Building their best day!