Outdoor Play Enhances Long-Term Wellbeing
Health Benefits of Outdoor Activity
In terms of health, children’s mental health and physical growth is a key factor in encouraging outdoor play. Getting fresh air and vitamin D outdoors promotes the release of serotonin, balancing moods and boosting happiness. Playing outside and being active helps develops children’s bones, strengthens joints and muscles, and works the cardiovascular system whilst developing motor skills like hand-eye coordination. The positive physical effects of outdoor play are important, especially with child obesity on the rise. 30% of children in the UK are now classed as overweight. To prevent obesity in adulthood and this later developing into type two diabetes, outdoor play is more important than ever before.
Play Improves Overall Wellbeing for Children and Communities
Outdoor play is a perfect opportunity for children to release energy and learn in a different environment. When playing outside on the daily mile tracks or children’s play area, students take ownership of their own learning and get to experiment with their style and approach to learning. The outdoors develops soft skills of problem-solving and critical thinking. Whereas in the classroom, hard skills of knowing how to count, read and write are cultivated. Giving students the freedom to take responsibility for their learning and make decisions in their preferred learning environment generates interpersonal skills. Imagination and intellect are often linked to time spent in the outdoors. Playing, exercise and learning outside nurtures children’s sense of self and increases their confidence.
The OPENspace Research centre discusses how outdoor play “has the potential to confer a multitude of benefits on young people’s physical development, emotional and mental health and well-being and societal development. Mental health and wellbeing benefits from play in natural settings appear to be long-term, realised in the form of emotional stability in young adulthood.” Therefore, Playsmart is dedicated to creating a safe and high-quality playground flooring. Our surface solutions help play areas to exceed children’s mental and physical needs.
2 thoughts on “How outdoor play improves children’s mental and physical wellbeing”
That was a fascinating post! Children benefit from playing at playgrounds in a variety of ways. It not only improves their physical health but also enhances their mental fitness and social abilities. Children who play in their natural environment experience less tension and anxiety, allowing them to be more playful and completely enjoy their time. It also aids children in making sense of challenging concepts.
Excellent article! Children require physical activity all through the day, and encouraging outside play allows them to get some fresh air and learn more about their surroundings. Practical learning in the natural environment, I believe, helps young children enhance their self-esteem and physical and mental health.