The benefits of outdoor play in child development

In 2021, the mayor of the Sardinian town of Mamoiada banned homework during the school holidays. He encouraged families to go for walks and watch the sunrise instead.  He felt children would benefit more by exploring the world around them. We agree that spending playful time connecting with your child, indoors or outside, brings great benefits to your child’s self-esteem and emotional well-being.

Why is play important?

One of the real plusses of the school holidays can be the chance to spend time out and about outdoors with no school timetable to tell you it’s time to move onto the next activity.  We’ve written before about outdoor play for connection.  Outdoor play has huge health benefits, both physical and psychological (Office for National Statistics 2019).

Making time outdoors a playful experience

There are a huge range of games which are marketed for the outdoors such as large versions of indoor games such as dominoes and Tic-Tac or Noughts and Crosses.  Playful activities with less of a competitive focus can offer a fun way for parents and children to connect and strengthen their relationships, such as co-building an outdoor den – the benefits of den building are manifold, introducing children to problem solving whilst increasing their sense of safety. You can also complete a treasure hunt!

Family game idea: outdoors treasure hunt

See more about how to take part in an outdoor treasure hunt with your child, and discover the benefits to your child’s wellbeing and development!

Family game ida: Go colour wild with chalk!

Using coloured chalks on a pavement or patio to co-create an image with your child, drawing round each other’s feet and hands, chalking doodles and patterns, leaving messages for each other can all create a relaxed, fun and playful time together.   Noticing and supporting your child’s choices and celebrating the ways they create and leave their mark on the world in a semi-permanent way, can be a positive and playful way for your child to feel seen and valued.

What if my child doesn’t want to be outside?

Many parents worry about the amount of time their child spends engrossed in an online game or TV reruns during their leisure time.  For some, it’s a real struggle to help your child transition from the screen without risking a meltdown.

It is worth considering what function that activity has for your child, is it a way of connecting with peers or a familiar activity which has a soothing effect due to the known elements and lack of surprise?

As families come to the end of the Summer holidays, parents may notice a rise in the amount of familiar, known activities their child may opt for.   Combining known activities within less familiar activities can widen a child’s experiences.

Family game idea: Den building

Building a den offers a range of opportunities for fun problem solving, creativity, working together and ways for your child to create a sense of safety within a time of imminent change.  Once the den is built, add a couple of throws or blankets, cushions and your child can relax and watch their favourite film or TV programme and better still, add a snack which can be eaten in situ.

Add a string of fairy lights or torches and as the daytime fades the space transforms into an exciting, twinkly place to be!  The den can become a venue for sleepovers, conversations, thinking time, a quiet space….whatever it needs to be.    The particularly great element of den making is that it can take place indoors or outside, so it can be an activity for a child who is hibernating inside or one who is happy in the outdoors and does not need to be cancelled due to the British weather!


About family games for connection and the lumin&us® app

Here at Beacon Family Services, we regularly publish therapeutic games to play with your child like OUTDOOR TREASURE HUNT as part of our services to help struggling families connect and develop family relationships.

Over time, you can build up a set of useful resources to help you connect with your child. These games are designed to help your child feel safe as you learn to understand your child’s behaviours and develop connection together.

You can find many more such games and ways to help you and your child progress together on the lumin&us® app – the world’s first wellbeing app for families!

Our qualified therapists support parents to use similar techniques in our Connect for Kids in-person sessions, packages of support for adoptive parents, and individual family therapy. We are based in the West Midlands, but many of our services and resources are provided as virtual experienes and available to parents across the UK.


Further support for parents

For further support, and to see our latest parent events and services, please visit the Families hub.

You can also explore our resources for instant support, including newsletters, online support groups, and much more. You can also read further insights and tips from qualified therapists and professionals on our blog.


Peppy

Peppy Hills is a qualified play therapist who leads Project Salam at Beacon Family Services.

For more information about Beacon Family Service’s Project Salam, contact peppy@beaconservices.org.uk or 0121 270 0593.