The Importance of Outdoor Play in Early Childhood

Play is an essential part of childhood. It's estimated that children spend between 3% and 20% of their time and energy playing. But why is playing outside and in nature so important for children? This article will explore how outdoor play helps foster holistic development during early childhood, its benefits, and ways that educators and caregivers can incorporate it into a child’s daily routine.

The Impact of Play on Childhood Development

Play benefits children by helping them develop essential skills, including problem-solving, critical thinking, and emotional regulation. This is especially true during early childhood, when children naturally explore the world through play.

“Play is really how [children] work and learn,” says Carol Laman, MA, faculty member in Purdue Global's College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. “It’s how children take in information and process it at that developmental stage.”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, some of the benefits children experience through play can include:

• Improved executive functioning
• Enhanced language and early math skills
• Boosted social development and peer relations
• Improved physical development and health
• Stronger sense of agency
• Enhanced creativity and multitasking skills

Outdoor vs. Indoor Play

While both indoor and outdoor play are important for a child's development, indoor activities typically happen in a more structured and controlled environment.

“Outdoor play is essential for physical activity, social interaction, and risk-taking,” Laman says. “For example, a group math activity outdoors can encourage collaboration, communication skills, hands-on learning opportunities, and movement.”

What Makes Outdoor Play Unique?

Laman explains that outdoor play often involves open-ended or unstructured activities. These activities encourage children to use their imagination and problem-solving skills. When children play outside, they experience natural environments with textures, sounds, and sights that can't be replicated indoors.

Laman offers the example of playing in a park or on a playground during recess. In these settings, children are allowed to experience unstructured play through activities such as running, climbing, and jumping, which promote creativity and build physical strength. At the same time, exploring natural elements such as rocks, leaves, and water can enhance sensory experiences and help children connect with nature.

Benefits of Outdoor Play for Children

According to Laman, outdoor playtime is important because of the variety of ways that it benefits children — from improving physical and mental health to teaching them how to manage risks safely. Some benefits of outdoor play include:

Motor Skill Development

Outdoor playtime supports gross motor development by encouraging activities such as running, jumping, and climbing. Promoting physical activity helps children improve their coordination, balance, and strength.

Physical and Mental Health

Studies show that the physical activity of outdoor play can help combat childhood obesity. Additionally, playing outdoors has been linked to better sleep, mood, and overall mental health.

Social Development

Playing outdoors encourages teamwork and communication. Small groups require collaboration, which can help children develop critical social skills such as empathy, negotiation, and leadership.

Risk Management

Taking risks is essential in children's development, and, according to Laman, playing in an outdoor space is important for this process. Whether it’s climbing trees or playing on a slide or monkey bars, “children are testing their limits in a safe environment,” which can help increase their confidence.

Balancing Structured and Unstructured Play

While structured play offers organized, goal-oriented activities, unstructured play allows children the freedom to explore and use their imagination. “Often, educators feel like they have to structure the whole day,” Laman says. “But having unstructured playtime where there are no guidelines or rules is critical for children’s development. It’s when their creativity and imagination really flourish.”

Unfortunately, not every child has the time or opportunity for this unstructured type of play. “Kids are very busy in today’s world,” Laman notes. “Between school and home activities, free play is often pushed to the side. We need to start making it a priority.”

Administrators, educators, teaching assistants, and daycare workers all play a vital role in facilitating outdoor play. By incorporating both structured and unstructured play into daily routines, they can provide children with opportunities to develop essential skills while fostering creativity and independence.

5 Outdoor Play Activities for Early Childhood Development

Laman shares the following to help educators and caregivers encourage holistic development in early childhood:

1. Growing a Garden

“Gardening is one of my favorite outdoor play activities for children because it introduces so many areas for development,” Laman says. Children participate by digging in dirt, planting seeds, watering plants, and observing their growth. This hands-on activity is a great way to introduce scientific concepts, such as the lifecycle of plants and measuring them over time, while also fostering responsibility and teamwork.

“Gardening also teaches responsibility and patience as children wait for their plants to grow,” Laman says. Moreover, it offers children an enjoyable way to connect with nature while learning valuable life lessons.

2. Shape Scavenger Hunt

A shape scavenger hunt invites children to explore their outdoor surroundings in search of specific objects — such as leaves, rocks, or clouds — that match a particular shape or color. This activity sharpens observation and focus while fostering cognitive development through classification and pattern recognition.

Laman explains: “We often do a shape scavenger hunt, asking the students, ‘What do we see outside that's a certain shape?’” By encouraging children to observe and identify patterns in their environment, scavenger hunts transform a walk outdoors into an opportunity for critical thinking and discovery. This activity can be easily tailored to different developmental levels, making it an accessible and educational outdoor experience for young children.

3. Sensory Tables

Sensory play using sand or water tables engages children’s senses while promoting creativity and fine motor skills. Children can dig, pour, and mold sand or splash water, fostering sensory exploration in a fun, hands-on way. Keeping it outdoors means less mess for their educators or caregivers.

This activity encourages imaginative play and provides an outlet for tactile learning. By working with different materials, children gain a deeper understanding of textures, weights, and measurements, all while enjoying the freedom of outdoor play.

4. The Parachute Game

The parachute game is a group activity that emphasizes teamwork and coordination. Children work together to hold and move a large parachute, often incorporating games such as bouncing balls on top of it or creating waves.

“It takes a team to do the parachute game,” Laman says. “The bigger activities are great to do outside.” This activity encourages problem-solving and collaborative communication as children coordinate their movements to achieve a common goal. The parachute game is an energetic and inclusive activity that strengthens social bonds while promoting physical activity.

5. Risk-Taking Activities

Outdoor activities that involve calculated risks, such as climbing, jumping, or balancing, help children develop resilience and confidence. These activities allow children to push their physical limits in a safe environment, teaching them how to assess and manage risks.

“Risk-taking outdoors allows children to develop resilience because when they are not successful, they can try again,” explains Laman. By overcoming challenges and trying new activities, children improve their motor skills and decision-making abilities. Risk-taking activities are an essential part of outdoor play, fostering independence and a sense of accomplishment.

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