Importance of outdoor play

IMPORTANCE OF OUTDOOR PLAY

"Children still need a childhood with dirt, mud, puddles, trees, sticks and tadpoles”                                                                                     – Brook Hampton.

Outdoor Play is now at an utmost extinct stage, and outdoor Play is now very silently replaced by technology and gadgets. 

We as parents should encourage outdoor Play in our kids’ day-to-day life, as only kids who have the best childhood turn into satisfied adults of tomorrow. 

Here, satisfied means emotionally balanced. 

The kids of this generation are mostly emotionally broken. 

Children cannot regulate their emotions, & play is a source that helps emotional regulation.

Why is outdoor Play so very important?

Through outdoor activities kids' energy is channelized positively, they get to explore nature, and they come closer to nature, not only this but children even learn many skills like team building, team spirit, strategy making, concentration, communication, being patient, waiting for ones turn, sharing and most importantly they learn self-discipline.

In any outdoor game, (if we analyze), when the kids are playing, we find kids learning many skills, for example, if the kids are playing hide and seek, the kid who is giving the Dan has to figure out the places where the other kids must have hidden, whereas the kids who have to hide will have to find a place which the danner is not able to find them. 

Now see, how much the brain is put to work and that too in a constructive way.

This will help them to be efficient individuals who can be problem solvers or, I must say, path makers.

 

This is just one simple game; if we think of games like stop and party, kho-kho, dog and the bone, etc., apart from physical exercise, the amount of mental exercise and mental storming done will result in building them into a complete, confident, and emotionally balanced person. 

Why is playing games a recreational activity? 

Kids have their own set of tensions, fears, frustrations, and mental turbulence that need to be released, and playing outdoors is the best option.

 

The mind is a devil if idle; it can lead us to disaster. If the mind is kept engaged in constructive work, it can create wonders. 

I believe outdoor Play controls this devil and puts it in the construction zone.

 

It’s high time we realize that outdoor Play is the right of a child, and we should not link it with their capacity to study or grasp. 

I have often heard parents say that, because my child is weak in studies, he needs to cut down his Play time and study more. 

Do you think any child (clever or weak in studies) can study or focus for long hours? 

In fact, it will be boring for the child. I think this attitude of parents will definitely put the child off studies, and gradually, he will lose interest in academics.

Force & pressure in studies will lead to burnout.

It’s not about whether the child is clever or average in studies. Playtime should be equated properly because some kids learn in class with books, and some on the ground. 

In my thoughts, kids should never be rated clever or average on their academic performance, as there are ample examples where people are academically zero and otherwise heroes and role models for society.  

Equal opportunity for Play and study should be given to all the kids. I strongly believe that Play is an important form of learning.   

We should condition our minds in such a way that when a child is playing, he is in his learning session, so it will be easy for us to digest, as we are so-called "concerned moms" we are very learning-oriented, we always want our kids to learn, and we believe Play is a waste of time.

Set a daily Play routine for your child, and if the child doesn’t get time to play, parents should feel guilty about it, and efforts should be made to create ample opportunities for children to play.

Encourage outdoor Play more and more to bring up a mentally, socially, and emotionally balanced generation ahead…

Tips for parents to create opportunities for playtime:

1. Set aside dedicated playtime: Schedule regular time for play.

2. Create a play-friendly environment: a Safe, clutter-free space.

3. Provide open-ended toys: Blocks, LEGO, dolls, etc.

4. Encourage imagination: Dress-up, pretend play, storytelling.

5. Get involved: Play with your child, follow their lead.

6. Limit screen time: Prioritize physical play.

7. Offer outdoor play: Nature, parks, playgrounds.

8. Support interests: Encourage hobbies, passions.

9. Make it sensory: Explore textures, colors, and sounds.

10. Be present: Engage, observe, and support play.

Click on the YouTube link to watch the episode on outdoor play.