The Benefits of Outdoor Play in the Early Years

Let’s play outside! Outdoor experiences and activities play an important role in early years development. Playing outdoors is a great way to help children explore and discover the world around them.

From sensory discoveries and encouraging movement to improving both mental and physical health, outdoor play has so many benefits for children. 

In this blog, we’ll delve deeper into why we believe outdoor play is such a crucial part of a child’s development

Knowledgeable and enthusiastic early years educators are crucial to unlocking the potential of outdoors.

Why is outdoor play so important for a child’s development?

As technology continues to advance, it’s no surprise that children are spending less and less time outside. But getting outdoors brings so many benefits for young children. Whether they’re improving their motor skills, connecting with nature or building confidence, outdoor play benefits both physical and mental health.

So, what are the key benefits of playing outdoors? 

Physical Health Benefits

• Improved physical fitness: outdoor play gives children the space to get involved in activities like running, jumping and climbing, which help to build strength and coordination.
• Exposure to sunlight: sunlight is a natural source of vitamin D, which is crucial for bone health and immune function.
• Better sleep: physical activity and natural light exposure can help regulate sleep patterns, leading to better overall sleep quality.
• Enhanced motor skills: engaging in various outdoor activities helps develop both gross and fine motor skills.

Mental Health Benefits

• Reduced stress and anxiety: being in nature has been shown to lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and reduce symptoms of anxiety.
• Improved mood: outdoor play can boost mood and reduce the risk of depression, thanks to the release of endorphins and other mood-enhancing chemicals.
• Enhanced creativity and imagination: nature and unstructured play provide a stimulating environment that encourages creativity and imaginative play.

Social Benefits

• Social interaction: playing outside often involves interacting with peers, which helps develop social skills such as communication, cooperation and problem-solving.
• Teamwork and leadership: group play encourages teamwork and can help children learn to take on leadership roles and collaborate effectively with others.

Cognitive Benefits

• Enhanced learning and cognitive development: outdoor environments offer diverse stimuli that can enhance learning and cognitive development. Activities like exploring, observing and engaging with nature can boost curiosity and learning.
• Problem-solving skills: outdoor play often involves navigating challenges and solving problems, which helps develop critical thinking skills.

Environmental Awareness

• Connection to nature: spending time outdoors creates a sense of connection to the environment, which can lead to a greater appreciation for nature and a desire to protect it.
• Environmental responsibility: children who play outside are more likely to develop an understanding and respect for the environment, which can influence environmentally responsible behaviours later in life.

Overall Wellbeing

• Sense of freedom and independence: outdoor play allows children to explore and make decisions independently, which can boost confidence and self-esteem.

Resilience and risk management: engaging in activities that involve an element of risk, such as climbing trees or navigating uneven terrain, helps build resilience and the ability to assess and manage risks.

How do we encourage outdoor play at Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries? 

Understanding and valuing the importance of outdoor play in early years development is crucial when we consider how our outdoor provision is developed and accessed.

Our staff are the key to unlocking the potential of what our outdoor provision has to offer. We work hard to create environments that are inviting, inspiring and engaging, empowering children to develop a love of learning outdoors.

At Monkey Puzzle we ensure that just as much care and attention is taken when planning activities for children to learn and develop in our outside spaces as we do when planning for our inside environments. Outdoor activities are planned daily, and children have the opportunity to access the outside space as part of their daily routine.

All of our nursery settings have access to an outside area that has been specially designed to complement the inside provision, allowing children to connect with nature, to explore the natural environment and the world around them. Our nurseries also make great use of local community spaces. We value our local communities and together we explore familiar or new spaces within our local area.  

Get in touch with us today to find out more about what we offer here at Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries.