By Jane Marsh
Living close to nature is increasingly seen as vital for your children’s development. A backyard is essential for natural living, offering your kids a personal outdoor space to connect with nature. It helps them grow physically, mentally and emotionally.
3 Benefits of Outdoor Play
Playing outdoors is important for everyone, offering numerous benefits.
1. Physical Development
Active play, like running, jumping and climbing, is vital for kids’ physical development. It’s recommended that children between the ages of 5 and 12 have at least one hour of physical activity daily. These activities build strong muscles and bones and also help them develop coordination, balance and essential motor skills as they explore and engage in movement.
Playing actively helps kids develop big and small muscles. Running and jumping improve larger movements while activities like picking up objects enhance their coordination and smaller movements.
When kids are exposed to natural light, it prompts their bodies to produce vitamin D. This essential vitamin is vital in bone health, immune system and overall well-being.
Spending time outdoors in the fresh air supports respiratory health, providing a natural boost to the immune system. Inhaling the natural scents released by trees and plants boosts the activity of the kids’ germ-fighting cells, known as the natural killer cells.
Playing actively helps kids develop big and small muscles. Running and jumping improve larger movements while activities like picking up objects enhance their coordination and smaller movements.
2. Cognitive Development
Playing outdoors improves thinking skills, sparking creativity and problem-solving. Bringing nature into play creates natural learning opportunities, nurturing children’s love for exploration and discovery.
Nature exposure fuels curiosity, making kids eager to explore and understand the world. During outdoor activities, children can observe and learn about plants, animals and the environment.
Feeling grass and smelling flowers in the backyard provides hands-on experiences. Walking barefoot engages their sense of touch. Exploring scents enhances their sense of smell.
Sensory play helps brain development. It improves language abilities and helps kids learn to solve problems through diverse experiences.
3. Emotional Development
Backyards provide a safe and familiar environment for children. Kids can freely express themselves in this comfortable space, nurturing emotional regulation and self-awareness.
Nature’s calming effect helps alleviate stress and anxiety. Exposure to natural surroundings positively influences mood, contributing to a more positive and resilient emotional state.
Natural Play Spaces
Playing freely in natural settings enhances creativity and imagination. Unstructured play encourages problem-solving as kids face challenges without strict rules.
Exploring natural play spaces like trees and rocks triggers curiosity about the world. Kids develop a sense of wonder, appreciating the beauty of nature through these experiences.
