Why playing outdoors is so important for children

Just like eating, sleeping, and drinking, playing outdoors is a fundamental need for children. When they play, children do exactly what they need in that moment. Running around, jumping, climbing, and exploring isn't just a pleasant pastime, but a primary activity for little ones. Through play, children become familiar with the world. They try to understand it and find a connection to nature.

Whether in a rain jacket and wellies or under bright sunshine, a daily trip into the fresh air is incredibly important. Why?

In this post, we've summarized a few good reasons to grab the kids and head out to the park or forest.

Playing outdoors has a positive effect on health.

Playing outdoors is good for us and our children, and that's certainly no secret. Fresh air promotes our health.

Recent studies have shown that children today spend about 25 percent less time outdoors than their parents did. Researchers even speak of an alienation from nature, which leads to children learning less and less about their environment and even feeling uncomfortable in this unfamiliar space. Compared to the past, our children are becoming increasingly less active and suffer more from mental health problems. Yet regular walks in the forest, park, or mountains have an incredibly positive influence on a child's overall development.

Spending a lot of time in nature reduces the long-term risk of illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, and fresh air also helps to reduce stress levels. As an added bonus, our bodies absorb sunlight, which is essential for the production of vitamin D.

In Scandinavian countries, it's perfectly normal for babies and children to take their midday nap in their strollers outdoors in the fresh air, regardless of whether it's winter at -12 degrees Celsius or summer.

Spending all day indoors, especially in front of a computer or television, can lead to health problems. The eyes become accustomed to close-up work, and the gaze no longer wanders around the room or into the distance. This causes the eye muscles to atrophy, which can lead to impaired vision.

Furthermore, all children have a natural urge to move, which needs to be encouraged. Children who spend a lot of time indoors quickly become restless and have more difficulty concentrating.

A packed lunchbox and water bottle filled with delicious and healthy ingredients will guarantee every outing is a highlight. You can find tasty recipes for outdoor kids in our Instagram highlights.

For a limited time only: Every order at Lillygo.de currently comes with a super cute postcard set to color in for free.

Playing outside with children, going outside with children, why? Lillygo

Nature serves as a source of inspiration and fosters the creativity of children.

Nature awakens the spirit of discovery and inspires new games and adventures. All our senses are stimulated in the process. Anyone who has ever taken a walk through the woods or a hike in the mountains with children has surely noticed how creative the little ones become in this new environment.

Children quickly develop a great interest in the new environment, observing ants, examining small beetles, looking out for squirrels and trying to imitate the sounds of birds.

The little ones quickly come up with their first ideas for exciting games. They can build dams in a stream, make huts from fallen branches, and collect interesting natural materials for crafting along the way. Playing outdoors is never boring. The ideas arise all by themselves, because there are no limits to the imagination.

And if the little ones would rather watch their favorite show on television instead of going outside, we have two exciting game templates for you to print out.

With our egg carton template for a walk in the woods, your children will have something to do. During the walk, they should fill the egg carton as much as possible with all the forest treasures shown. A piece of bark, a clover leaf, a flower, or a particularly beautiful stone: while searching for all these objects, the children will take a very close look at the forest.

With the printable forest bingo template, you can all go on a search for the pictured objects and animals together. Keep your eyes and ears open; it certainly won't be long before you spot the first bird, a bee, or a particularly beautiful flower.

Playing in the forest improves physical fitness.

Playing outdoors naturally improves physical fitness. Conversely, a lack of exercise can lead to obesity. There's so much to see and experience outdoors, so little ones naturally become physically active. They balance on fallen logs, climb trees, run, jump, or throw stones into the stream. Every movement outdoors helps them learn how to use their bodies.

Playing in the forest promotes the emotional health of children.

Did you know that children are much more likely to make social connections outdoors? Their emotional development is strongly influenced by playing with others. Important skills such as cooperation, social roles, and conflict management are learned and reinforced automatically through play.

Our connection to nature also shapes our sense of responsibility. Playing in nature helps children understand the importance of maintaining a clean environment and that even weaker creatures have value.

We parents can support our children in this. Next time you go for a hike, simply take a trash bag and some barbecue tongs with you and casually collect the plastic that others have thrown away. It's fun, and at the end of the hike, you'll have made a great contribution to the environment and animals.