Spending time outside is crucial for all of us. Some doctors even prescribe going outside every day as part of a patient’s treatment for depression.
It is even more important for young children who are growing and developing. BUT… for many of us, having our children play outside takes intentionality on our part.
The reality is that in many neighborhoods, playing in the culdesac is no longer as safe as it used to be, and not all of us are blessed with a backyard.
This means that for our children to play outside, it requires more time and effort to drive to a park, go on a walk, etc.
After reading and doing my own research on childhood development, I realized the importance of outside free play, so going outside every day is a priority for us.
There is a Norweigan saying that translates to “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing”. At the end of the post, you will also find a few of our favorite clothing items that make going outside possible in this rainy Washington state.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means that I make a small commission off a sale if an item is purchased (at no extra cost to you). This does not affect what items I recommend. I am only listing items that I truly believe are the best!
The advantages of outdoor play really are endless, but these are 5 of the benefits I have noticed in my own children.
Increased Creativity
Unstructured outdoor play provides children with opportunities for independent thinking and problem-solving. It also stimulates their senses and encourages them to explore. When children are surrounded by nature instead of toys, they begin using their imagination to come up with their own ideas using the natural materials around them like rocks, sticks, leaves, etc.
I love seeing Caleb build “trucks” out of rocks, or a “fishing pole” out of sticks!
Better Sleep
I have heard this one many times, which is that kids sleep better when they have spent a good amount of time outdoors.
And it makes sense since they can use up more energy and relieve any built-up stress when they are outdoors.
It also helps the circadian rhythm, when children go outside early in the morning.
I have honestly seen this to be true with my children, especially when it comes to naps. I find that when we do manage to get outdoors in the morning, my one-year-old naps for quite a bit longer than when we stay indoors.
Stronger Immune System
Starting in the fall time, for the last couple of years, we have been taking turns getting sick in our home on and off until about February. This was one of the main reasons why I made the choice to make sure we go outside as much as we can. I wanted to see if it would actually improve our immune systems because I was beginning to dread the colder months.
I am happy to report that we have been much stronger this year! Maybe this is due to other things too, but I feel like getting outside has had something to do with it as well (getting exposed to all the vitamin D!).
Improved Emotional Regulation
If you are feeling stressed, step outside and breathe in fresh air. Notice how this affects your mind and body. Similarly, outdoor play can be a really helpful tool in reducing stress and anxiety in children. And not only that, but it also increases endorphins!
Being able to move and play freely without any rules also allows children to learn problem-solving skills (like how to step over a log, or get on top of a climbing dome), which in turn promotes emotional regulation as well.
Increased Resilience
There are several factors, stemming from outdoor play, that play a key role in increasing a child’s resilience.
Increased confidence and reduced stress that comes from outdoor play goes hand-in-hand with increased resilience. When a child learns how to overcome obstacles, he becomes not only more confident but also more resilient and is willing to push further the next time he is presented with another obstacle.
I have noticed this watching my toddler on the playground. I would watch him struggle to climb the rope ladder. He would try once and only make it up to the first level. After a while, he comes back and tries again. This time after struggling for a bit he makes it up to the third level. He looks at me, hoping I will help. I want him to succeed on his own so instead of helping, I say “You can do it, honey” and I tell him how to position his foot. Finally, he makes it to the top with a beaming smile on his face. The next time we come to the park, he attempts to climb the other ladder. Knowing that he can climb the rope ladder, he pushes harder to climb this one until he finally succeeds.
Increased Confidence
Going outside provides children with many opportunities for risk-taking. This is crucial for building confidence in young children.
It may be accomplishing things like climbing up a ladder, going down a slide successfully, climbing over a log, etc. There are a lot of different ways in which children can work on gross motor skills, which in turn, increases their independence and confidence.
Outdoor Products We Love
