Top Benefits Of Children Playing Outside

Winter is a beautiful season to spend more time outdoors here in Florida. While our friends up north have to bundle up their kids, our kids rarely need more than a light jacket. Taking advantage of our mild weather isn’t the only reason to get out of the house. Playing out in nature has many benefits for children, from improving their mood to increasing their cognitive development.

According to Sanford Health, children in the U.S. spend only four to seven minutes a day outside enjoying unstructured play. In contrast, they spend an average of seven hours plus in front of a screen. We know that setting your kids in front of a screen can be the easiest way to keep them out of your hair, but it doesn’t play an essential role in their development like time outside does. Unstructured play outdoor is vital for children’s development. The top three ways children benefit from time outdoors are improved executive function, sensory skills, and physical health.

#1. Better Executive Function

Executive function is the name for the mental skills that are crucial for modern life. Skills like planning, prioritizing, troubleshooting, negotiating, and multitasking, along with creativity. Unstructured outdoor play helps children to develop these vital skills.

When kids play games with their peers–without an adult making all the rules–it teaches them how to plan, work together, problem-solve, and negotiate. It can create an opportunity for them to learn flexibility and self-control.

Studies suggest that children who spend a significant time outdoors are better at being self-directed, more likely to participate in new activities, and more likely to follow through on a task. These skills are especially valuable for children growing up today in an everchanging world.

#2. Well-Rounded Sensory Skills

Toddlers are often delighted by nature because it engages more of their senses than a screen. When children are in front of a screen, it only engaged two of their senses: hearing and sight. Outside, at least four of their senses are engaged: smell, touch, sight, and hearing. They can smell freshly cut grass, evergreens, or a stinky insect. They can touch an interesting bug, climb up a rope ladder, or feel the rough texture of a basketball. Kids’ perceptual abilities improve in an environment that stimulates more of their senses. Studies have shown that children who play outside regularly tend to have better distance vision than children who spend most of their time indoors.

#3. Improved Physical Health

Studies show that children burn more calories outside, and it’s no surprise. When children get out of the house, they have space to run, jump, and roughhouse. These aerobic activities give their legs and lungs healthy exercise. Catching a ball, playing tug-a-war, picking up exciting objects, and other everyday outdoor activities strengthen their muscles and motor skills. Scheduling playtime outdoors is a great way to get in an hour of daily exercise, which doctors recommend for children.

Playing in the sun also gives kids a healthy dose of Vitamin D. This essential nutrient is key to building strong bones and decreasing the risk of developing a chronic disease. Vitamin D also improves children’s mood and sleep.

We know how hard it can be to prioritize spending time outdoors; that’s why our childcare center at Kids ‘R Kids Avalon Park has an outdoor play area. But it’s worth it to build it into your routine also! Getting more sunshine wouldn’t just be good for your kids. Most adults in the U.S.A. have a Vitamin D deficiency. Soaking up more vitamin D and breathing in fresh air as your kids play will boost your mood too.