Outdoor play helps kids ages 3-11 grow stronger, sleep better, regulate their moods, build social skills, and spend less time on screens. In short, time in the fresh air supports physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development - and it just makes childhood more fun. Below we break down the research-backed benefits and share simple, age-by-age ways to get your kids outside.
Whether we grew up in a rural area or smack in the middle of suburbia, most of us remember playing outdoors as children. In my household, go play outside was one of the most common phrases we heard. Sometimes those three words were followed by, and don't come back until dinnertime. And you know what? We usually didn't.
Those were the memorable afternoons - the ones filled with fort building, neighborhood games of hide and seek, enjoying great books under trees, impromptu snowball fights, and - just once - constructing a human catapult to launch each other across the backyard (Refresh Sports does not condone this type of activity). Spending time in the fresh air was second nature to us. But that's not necessarily the case for the current generation of children.
While it's difficult to determine exactly how much time children spend outdoors today (the data is impacted by a variety of factors, including region, age, and season), numerous studies suggest that new generations of kids are spending significantly less time outdoors than their parents did. On the flip side, a 2023 systematic review of screen time among school-aged children found that daily screen usage is increasing, with 46.4% of children ages 6 to 14 reporting that they spend 2 hours or more on screens every day.
Should this trend of less outdoor play and more screen time concern us? At Refresh Sports, we think it already does - and it's one of the reasons we're so proud of our high-quality, screen-free outdoor toys. In this post, we've taken a closer look at the benefits of outdoor play and explored some of the hows and whys of getting kids outdoors at different ages:
Why Is Outdoor Play So Important For Child Development?
Outdoor play is important for child development because it builds the body, the brain, and the bonds between kids all at once. Young children are like sponges - they learn from their environment. When that environment includes access to nature and opportunities for outdoor play, children benefit physically, intellectually, and emotionally. A recent literature review compiled what the research has to say about the benefits of outdoor activity on child development and concluded that outdoor play positively impacts sensory and motor development, emotional regulation, mood, social skills, and more.
Let's get our hands dirty (or should we say wiggle our fingers in the dirt?) and take a deeper dive into seven of the major benefits of outdoor play for children:
What Are The 7 Major Benefits Of Outdoor Play For Children?
1. Improves Physical Health & Fitness
There's a lot to cover here, simply because of the sheer number of studies that have linked time spent outdoors to improved health and fitness in children. Outdoor playtime provides children with a perfect environment to stimulate and challenge their bodies and has been correlated with positive outcomes, including advanced motor skills, lower rates of obesity, healthier bones, improved immune function, muscle strength, balance, coordination, endurance, and more.
One of the big health benefits of outdoor play? The almost irresistible invitation it offers children to engage their bodies and senses. Even just the simple act of walking on uneven surfaces in a natural environment positively affects coordination, core strength, and balance.
2. Build Stronger Mental & Emotional Health
You're probably aware that vitamin D is important for children, but did you know that it has been associated with mental and emotional health benefits ranging from improved mood to a reduction in ADHD symptoms? One of the best ways to help your children take in vitamin D is by making sure they're playing outdoors in the sunshine - where they'll also have the opportunity to build their confidence, self-awareness, and social skills.
3. Boost Social Skills Through Cooperative Play
Playing with other children in an unstructured outdoor environment is a natural catalyst for cooperative play. There's so much to see and do in the natural world - and exploring it with others can lead to improved communication and problem-solving, not to mention the development of deeper friendships.
The outdoors is the ultimate playground - meaning there's endless potential for cooperative play. There's no right or wrong, and different children may gravitate toward groups of friends who enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities, including imaginative play (mud pies, anyone?), physical activities (climbing, racing, rolling down hills), and cooperative challenges (constructing a fort, designing a dam, or even playing a team sport). Backyard team games like our Aqua Hockey Water Game give kids a low-pressure way to practice taking turns, cheering each other on, and working together.
4. Encourages Independence & Confidence
When we view our children as capable, they rise to the challenge - and that's the basic principle behind the concept of risky play. Haven't heard that term before? It refers to play opportunities that empower children to engage in age-appropriate challenges - such as climbing a tree, roughhousing with friends, or exploring a new place - where there's a sense of thrill and a real risk of minor injury or discomfort involved.
Don't misunderstand. Risky play isn't about putting kids in danger - it's about providing safe boundaries within which children can cultivate their independence and confidence. Trusting them while also removing our own fears from the equation (within reason, of course) allows our kids to organically improve their bodily and spatial awareness, learn to assess their own levels of risk, and prevent their own injuries. Ultimately, it builds resiliency, confidence, and a strong sense of self.
5. Sparks Imagination & Creative Thinking
This one almost goes without saying - but we'll say it anyway. If you've ever watched a young child play with a stick - first pretending it's a fishing rod, then a magic wand, then a snake, then an airplane - you understand that the natural environment opens up a world of possibilities for young minds. From fairy tea parties to epic caveperson battles, the natural world can inspire young children to creatively - and endlessly - engage their imaginations.
6. Supports Better Sleep & Daily Routines
It's well accepted that fresh air tires kids out. As far as research goes, several studies have correlated outdoor play with improved sleep quality - including a 2020 study that found the risk of insufficient sleep duration (ISD) decreased with outdoor play in Chinese school-aged children. But the benefits don't end there. When children get enough sleep, they're also better able to focus, successfully complete tasks, and maintain a positive attitude throughout the day.
7. Reduces Screen Time & Tech Dependence
Find it tough to get your kids to turn off the screen? You're not alone. Consistently scheduling in time for active outdoor play can be a natural way to set clear screen time boundaries - without tears or battles. Getting kids up off the couch to engage with peers and the natural world reduces tech dependence and the many risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle. If you're looking for more ways to ease kids off devices, our guide to engaging screen-free activities for kids has plenty of ideas to try this week.
How Much Outdoor Playtime Do Kids Really Need?
Most experts suggest aiming for 1 to 3 hours of outdoor time per day, with the general rule of thumb being: the more the better. There's no universally accepted standard for the minimum amount of time children should spend playing outdoors every day. That being said, the general consensus among researchers, health professionals, child development specialists, and educators around the globe is clear.
To put a number on it, the WHO recommends at least 2 to 3 hours of active play for preschoolers (ages 3-4) and 2 to 3 hours of physical activity, including 60 minutes of moderate-vigorous exercise, for school-aged children (ages 5-12).
What Are The Best Outdoor Play Activities For Ages 3-11?
At Refresh Sports, we're all about unstructured outdoor play - and we know that high-quality toys can be the hook that gets children engaged in all the right ways. Whether you're in search of innovative beach toys and pool toys to take water play to the next level, flying toys like boomerangs that will make your kids' spirits soar, or multiplayer games that the whole gang can enjoy, you'll find them in our inventory.
Let's break down some possible toys and outdoor play activities by age:
Outdoor Ideas For Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)
-
Play toss and catch with our XL Beach Ball.
-
Encourage imaginative play with our Soaring Commander Plane Glider.
-
Promote focus and sensory play with our Stringy Balls.
Fun Outdoor Games For Kids (Ages 6-9)
-
Facilitate hours of water skipping competition and cooperative play with our Soft Stone Skippers Water Skip Discs.
-
Enable kids to successfully throw a boomerang - with our safe and aerodynamic Soft Traditional Boomerang.
-
Learn to juggle outdoors with our 8-pack of Stringy Balls.
Active Outdoor Challenges For Tweens (Ages 10-11)
-
See how far you can launch our Rocket Howler Slingshot.
-
Enjoy super fun, backyard-approved multiplayer games like the Bouncy Paddle & Stringy Ball Game, Sticky Baseball Paddle Toss & Catch game, or Aqua Hockey Water Game.
How Can You Encourage Outdoor Play Every Day?
At Refresh Sports, we understand that outdoor play doesn't come easily for everyone. Here are a few tips to get you started:
-
Build outdoor play into your daily routine.
-
Make a habit of connecting with friends and neighbors outdoors.
-
Create inviting spaces for outdoor play.
-
Put clear limits on indoor screen time.
What Are The Best Safety Tips For Outdoor Play?
Staying safe should always be a priority during outdoor play. At Refresh Sports, we recommend the following as a starting point:
-
Provide age-appropriate supervision for outdoor play.
-
Teach kids to be aware of their surroundings and assess for risks.
-
Use proper safety gear.
-
Dress for the weather.
-
Stay hydrated and use UV protection.
Why Does Outdoor Play Still Matter Today?
Outdoor play still matters today because it has tremendous physical, cognitive, emotional, and social benefits for children of all ages. Besides all that? It's really fun!
Ready to kick-start your children's outdoor time with amazing toys that are 100% screen-free and will keep them coming back again and again for more outdoor play? Explore our inventory to get started!
Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Play
What are the main benefits of outdoor play for kids?
The main benefits are stronger physical health and fitness, better mental and emotional health, improved social skills, greater independence and confidence, sparked imagination, better sleep, and less screen time. Research links outdoor play to gains in coordination, mood, and motor development across kids ages 3-11.
How much time should kids spend playing outside each day?
Many experts suggest 1 to 3 hours of outdoor time per day. The WHO recommends at least 2 to 3 hours of active play for preschoolers (ages 3-4) and 2 to 3 hours of physical activity - including 60 minutes of moderate-vigorous exercise - for school-aged children (ages 5-12).
What are good outdoor toys for kids ages 3-11?
Match the toy to the age: beach balls, plane gliders, and stringy balls for preschoolers (3-5); water skip discs and soft boomerangs for ages 6-9; and slingshots and multiplayer paddle games for tweens (10-11). The best outdoor toys are the ones that pull kids off the couch and into the backyard.
Does outdoor play help reduce screen time?
Yes. Building active outdoor play into the daily routine gives kids an appealing alternative to screens and makes it easier to set clear screen-time limits without tears or battles - while reducing the risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
Ā
