Importance of Outdoor Play
By Payton Hiebert, BSc
Outdoor play is an essential part of brain and body development in children. Starting at a young age, outdoor play has been proven to have strong health benefits, including reduced stress and anxiety, increased blood circulation, and increased brain activity (Participaction, 2018). Multiple studies have also found that playing outside has positive effects on brain development, as outdoor play “promotes attention restoration, memory, competence, [and] self-discipline…” among a variety of other factors (McCormick, 2017). Collaboration during outdoor play also helps with social skills, critical thinking, and emotional regulation (Participaction, 2018).
Outdoor play is easy in the spring and summer; in the winter, it’s much more difficult. Layers are required to stay warm, kids get runny noses, and you can’t stay outside for too long depending on the temperature. However, outdoor play is still critical during the winter months, and kids need to play outside despite the challenges that come with the cold. Fresh air and physical activity have positive mental health effects through the release of hormones like serotonin and oxytocin, which help children to feel calmer and happier (Participaction, 2018 & Harvard Health, 2010). This can be especially important during the winter months, when seasonal mental health effects are more prevalent. Outdoor play also helps to combat vitamin D deficiency, which is commonly experienced during the winter months (Harvard Health, 2010). Playing outside increases vitamin D exposure in the form of sunlight, leading to improved bone health and immune system function (Harvard Health, 2010).
Playing outside in the winter also provides children with opportunities to engage in activities that aren’t possible during other months, exposing them to uncommon environments, engaging their senses, and allowing them to learn. There are lots of options for outdoor winter play at home, including building snow forts, making snow angels, and having snowball fights. Snow is a great creative outlet for kids, and there are endless things to build that will engage your child’s brain as they play. If you have a little one at home, you can also practice letters, numbers, or words in the snow. A variety of outdoor winter activities can also be done away from home. Taking your kids to a new area of your community or city to participate in winter activities allows them to explore and learn more about where they live as they play. Sledding and skating are fun ways to be physically active outdoors, while also helping to develop balance and fine motor control (Palya et al., 2022). These activities are good because they can be done at any time within your community. You can also try going to the mountains for tubing, skiing, or snowboarding! For more ideas on outdoor play in the winter check out Active For Life’s website.
Proper outdoor attire is crucial for children to stay safe and receive the full benefits of outdoor winter play—please remember to dress your children in the necessary items to go outside in the cold. Thick socks, a warm base layer, hats, mittens, as well as waterproof snowsuits and boots are all required to keep your children warm while they play outside!
References
Harvard Health. (2010). A prescription for better health: Go alfresco. Retrieved January 10, 2023, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/a-prescription-for-better-health-go-alfresco
McCormick, R. (2017). Does Access to Greenspace Impact the Mental Well-being of Children: A Systematic Review. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 37(NOV), 3-7. https://www.pediatricnursing.org/article/S0882-5963(17)30185-9/fulltext
Palya, Z., Petro, B., Kiss, R.M. (2022). Assessment of Dynamic Balancing Performance of Synchronized Ice Skaters with Sudden Provocation Test via Principal Component Analysis. Journal of Motor Learning and Development, 10(3), 504-519.
https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jmld/10/3/article-p504.xml
Tremblay, M.S., Vanderloo, L.M., Cairney, J., Choquette, L., Collet, J.P., Davies, T., Faulkner, G., Gitimoghaddam, M., Glossop, E., Goldowitz, D., Gunnell, K., Kwan, S., Leo, J., Markham, C., McManus, A., Moore, S., Pontifex, M. B., Walsh, J., Zwicker, J.G. (2018). Canadian kids need to move more to boost their brain health: The 2018 Participaction Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.
https://activeforlife.com/winter-outdoor-play-ideas/