Playing in nature does a body good! And the environment benefits too!
Adults and children who play outside enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship with the natural world. In Nature and Childhood Development, Yale University scholar Stephen Kellert writes, “Play in nature, especially during the critical period of middle childhood, appears to be an especially important time for developing capacities for creativity, problem-solving, and emotional and intellectual development.” It is also an especially important time for developing a deep respect for the natural world. Children who play in nature become adults who want to protect it. Why is that?
Outdoor play is critical for everyone and develops:
- Creativity, problem-solving, focus, and self-discipline
- Cooperation, flexibility, and self-awareness
- Coordination, agility, and physical awareness
- Stress reduction, reduced aggression, and increased happiness
Direct experience in nature is diminishing because:
- Children stay indoors to play with tech toys.
- Children spend increased time in organized sports
and classes. - Intense media coverage of child-related crime makes parents afraid to send children outdoors.
- Leisure time for adults has plummeted by 20% since 2007.
Tips for nature play:
- Play outside year round. Whatever the climate, every season offers play days. Dress for the weather and enjoy the sights, smells, sensations, and sounds nature has to offer. Jump in puddles, roll down hills, chase or race from here to there.
- Improvise! Left to their own devices, without rules made by adults, children turn any natural setting into a playground. Adults can play along as directed by the children or monitor the action from a distance.
- Dust off favorite playground games. Kids don’t always get outdoor time at school so it’s a must at home. Play a family game of four square, dodge ball, or kickball. Get out the jump ropes and rhymes. Play red light, green light until the sun goes down. Try other traditional games to discover family favorites. www.streetplay.com/thegames/
- Sit still! Find a favorite outdoor spot. Settle in and sit quietly. Before long critters start to show up and details easily missed when walking or running become clear. Drawing or painting the view is fun. But just watching the show is too.
- Check the sites! Fresh ideas for outdoor fun are easy to find. Remember to share the role of “leader” with everyone in the family. Even a two-year-old can make up a game! www.thedailygreen.com
Additional Resources
Burdette, Hillary L., MD, MS; and Robert C. Whitaker, MD, MPH “Resurrecting Free Play in Young Children: Looking Beyond Fitness and Fatness to Attention, Affiliation and Affect,” 2005 American Medical Association.
