12 Tips to Help Encourage Your Child to Play Outdoors

30 years ago it was unheard of for children to play indoors. According to JCB Kids, children growing up in the 70s and 80s enjoyed a minimum two hours of outdoor play each weekday, keeping them active, healthy and social. Today, however, the amount of outdoor play each day has reduced to an average of just one hour, which experts say is just simply not enough.

As part of its ‘Fresh Air’ campaign, JCB Kids found a large percentage (43%) of children would rather stay indoors and watch TV, or play computer games. Conversely, 44% of parents wished their children were more willing to go outside.

Additionally, The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights recognises play as the right of every child, stating “play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of children and youth”.

But not all play is the same.

Many parents falsely believe providing their children with a wealth of resources that encourage play (such as iPads, computer consoles and organised activities) promotes the full benefits of play. But research tells us that child-driven play is crucial, and hurried, pressure-style play can in fact be more damaging than good.

Child-driven play:

• Is important for healthy development of the brain.
• Teaches children to work collaboratively, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, and learn self-advocacy skills.
• Practices decision-making skills, and allows children to move at their own pace, discover areas of interest, and ultimately engage in the passions they wish to pursue.
• Enhances creativity, leadership and group skills.
• Offers parents the opportunity to engage fully with their children.
• Results in fewer injuries than structured play.

At first, don’t react to complaints of boredom, and be patient if your child appears to do nothing for a while. As parenting writer Janet Lansbury wrote, “Often the richest, most productive play doesn’t look like much because it’s dawdling, imagining, daydreaming, big picture thinking”. Children need to build confidence in their own ability to entertain themselves, and need to develop a love for the outdoors themselves.

Top tips for encouraging outdoor play

1. Invite magic

Children love a little magical mystery, so get creative in the garden and construct a fairy house or toadstools at the base of a tree, clear out the undergrowth to make way for tunnels and caves, or add whimsy by planting shrubs in old boots, or by creating a mini garden in a pot.

2. Make nature exciting

Having enthusiasm for nature will rub off on your child, and result in “parallel play”. If you show excitement for gardening, hiking, bird-watching or outdoor projects, your kids will too. Often you’ll find them creating their own version of your activity nearby.

3. Build a sandpit

Sandpits provide endless forms of fun for young children, and building one doesn’t have to complicated. Fool-proof sandpit kits are available, but you can just as easily create something out of an old kiddie pool. Just add old spoons, old yoghurt pots and access to some water, and the kids will be happily playing for hours.

4. Make park play dates

Instead of meeting a friend in your local cafe, instead grab a takeaway coffee and head to the park. Offer children their own little space to play, and you’ll be amazed by what they will come up with. If there’s a few kids you could try encouraging them to create their own little town or house. Before you know it they’ll be establishing roles and constructing bedrooms, allowing you time to have a chat in peace.

5. Don’t be afraid of dirt

By sending kids outdoors in their old clothes, you’re teaching them that it’s okay to get dirty. If you have a little one insisting on wearing their fancy gear, then accept their clothes may get dirty – or hit your local charity shop and have them pick some dreamy dresses to have fun in. Besides, once dry, most mud is pretty easy to shake off.

6. Don’t interrupt

If your kids have gone outdoors to play, feel free to check in on them, but refrain from offering distractions such as food or a drink. If they are hungry or thirsty they will come to you, so let them get on with their focused play.

7. Offer responsibility

Children enjoy responsibility, especially when it offers some sort of value for their family. Approached in the right way, most kids will love being asked to help in the garden, and should happily water the veggie patch or get stuck into some weeding.

8. Team up

If you’re worried your child isn’t getting enough outdoor play, chances are a friend is feeling exactly the same way. Why not team up and take it in turns to have play dates in the garden? Any parent would love a free afternoon to complete some chores or enjoy some downtime, and when kids have a friend to play with, play reaches a new level of complex focus.

9. Take the indoors out

If your child loves playing with their trainset or building blocks, take them outside and encourage them to play with them in a new way. Blocks, figurines, playdough, dress ups, and other creative materials all take on new meanings when the environment changes.

10. Spend time as a family outdoors

Whenever you get the opportunity, head outdoors as a whole family. Enjoy an after dinner walk, pack up a picnic, or get the whole family to wash the car together.

11. Think beyond the backyard

Children enjoy exploring a range of outdoor environments, so depending on where you live, try mixing it up a bit. Take a walk on the beach and look for shells, visit your local botanical garden, or head to the river and explore the reeds.

12. Just add water!

Kids love playing with water, and as a sensory activity it aids brain development, and lays a foundation for scientific and mathematical learning. Encouraging splashing, pouring, stirring, sloshing, and anything else that will get them wet.

Remember, the earlier you instill a love for the outdoors, the less likely your child will favour the indoors.

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