While kids love playing games both indoors and outdoors, there are many benefits to outdoor games that they should often be encouraged to play games in the fresh air.
Here are just a few of the benefits:
Gross Motor
The main and most obvious benefit of playing outside is that children build gross motor skills – the large muscle groups.
- During games, children are building strength, flexibility and agility.
- They are learning to cross the midline.
- While playing active games or chasing games, they develop body awareness and position in space (proprioception).
- They are also developing balance, direction and a sense of movement (vestibular system) – highlighting the importance of outdoor play for a child’s sensory development.
Cognitive Skills
While movement directly develops a child’s gross and fine motor skills, there is research that also links outdoor play and brain development.
Outdoor play offers cognitive benefits to children as they coordinate their body movements and brain synapses. Movement builds new pathways in the brain. [source]
Social Development
By their very nature, games are usually played by at least two people. This makes social development a key benefit of playing games.
During games, children learn skills such as:
- Taking turns
- Cooperating with others
- Considering others’ needs
- Working together
- Being on a team
Games are fun, which makes the experience of playing with others a positive one. Children learn that playing with other children is a joyful experience.
Games may also foster new friendships as kids often play closely with others who are not in their circle of friends. The interaction can lead to new blossoming friendships.
Being in Nature
Spending time in nature is simply good for the soul.
According to thriveglobal.com, fresh air and natural light can uplift anyone’s mood. And, being near nature makes people happier.
Encourages Sport Participation
Outdoor group games are, for many young children, their first taste of organized sports.
While preschoolers may be too young to join the school cricket team, spending time playing games outside may foster a love for outdoor team sports.
Children who rarely go outside may be less inclined to suddenly become sporty in primary/elementary school.
During games, they learn about teamwork and how there is a purpose to the game, as well as rules that give it structure.
While it may be the trend to get kids to participate in sports at a younger and younger age, games are more developmentally appropriate for very young children.
Better Health
It is well known that physical activity benefits overall health. Playing games outdoors contributes to making children active and healthy.
Many studies have explored whether outdoor play reduces the risk of obesity. In this study, children who played outside more often showed a decrease in their BMI over the course of a school year.
Attention Span
Playing games outside increases children’s attention span in several ways.
Following the rules and staying engaged requires focus.
For younger children, games with numerous rules can overwhelm them and can result in losing focus, whereas just a few rules helps to strengthen their attention span over time.
Movement is also known to have a positive effect on a child’s attention span. Studies such as this one from St Catherine University show that taking regular movement breaks and doing purposeful movement activities increase young kids’ levels of focus.
The same is true for adults. Think about how you feel if you have been sitting at a desk for long periods of time. Your concentration starts to wane and you even feel sluggish.
The simple act of getting up, grabbing a cup of coffee, or going for a 2-minute walk, is enough to recharge you and give you the energy to continue working.
One of the best ways to introduce a brain break and refocus kids is to go outside and play a game. Young children need a lot more playtime than adults so, in early childhood, playtime is always valuable and never a waste of time.
Healthy Outlet
Kids, just like adults, often get frustrated or have the feeling of wanting to break free. They become full of pent-up energy that needs release.
Physical movement is the perfect way for them to release tension and express themselves in a healthy way.
Being outdoors creates a sense of freedom, and games encourage children to let go and enjoy themselves.
Expressing one’s self is an important part of healthy emotional development.
Learn to Follow Rules
Playing organized games is a great way to teach children to follow rules and why they exist. Without rules, the activity lacks purpose.
Children learn to follow rules in society, at home, in the classroom, and during games, and learn that in some cases, rules are necessary for providing structure.
Following the rules also shows that a child has good listening skills.
These are just a few benefits of outdoor play during the early years.
Need more info? Explore other forms of play that are equally important for healthy development.
