Let Them Get Dirty. Why Your Children Should Play Outdoors.

Today, children have many opportunities to learn, grow, and play. However, most children stay inside and do not go outside to play. The lure of electronic devices and gaming can drain everyone’s attention without realizing how much time has elapsed. We’ve lost sight of playing outside, getting dirty, and exploring our natural environments.

Let Them Get Dirty and Why Your Children Should Play Outdoors

Outdoor play in natural spaces is becoming popular worldwide, not just in your backyard.

Daycare centers, schools, and local parks are starting to look at their design and incorporate the land into their play structures.

Natural play spaces include logs, rocks, dirt, and sand instead of using plastic stairs and toy structures.

Taking out your old pots and pans to play in a pile of dirt can be a creative way for your children to play, and it’s 100% fun!

Outdoor play has so many benefits for children, youth, and adults!

It’s great if your children are into sports and playing on teams, but not everyone has the opportunity.

However, everyone can play outdoors in a natural space. Finding a place to play is as easy as your backyard, park, or local trail.

Mud pies, stirring up something special in a bowl, climbing on logs or cut-up logs, digging in the dirt, and playing with water can provide creative play, imagination, cooperation, and sharing, among others.

Outdoor play can help children develop communication, negotiation, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills.

Playing on logs, climbing on rocks, and climbing up trees can help build fundamental movements that will help with being active later in life.

Climbing, jumping, running, balancing, and throwing are all skills children can learn while being outdoors and playing in a natural play space.

As adults, there is no need to oversee their play.

However, if you join in with the fun, you’ll get to experience a different side of your children than when they play inside or sit on a computer too long.

When was the last time you turned nothing {dirt} into something {mud pies}?

When did you last balance on a log or jump from one spot to another?

Challenge your kids and yourself to play one morning outside in a natural play space and see what happens.

Don’t worry, and the dirt will wash off their clothing and yours too 😉