Why Kids Need the Great Outdoors
In a world where screens are everywhere and schedules are packed with too many activities, it's easy to forget the simple and most powerful resource for children: the great outdoors. There is power in outdoor play.
Take a moment to picture two scenes with me.
In one, a child sits alone in the dark, hunched over a tablet for hours with their face lit by a screen; they are completely mesmerized and fixated on flickering images. In another, that same child is running barefoot outside in the grass, using their imagination, playing in mud puddles, chasing butterflies, and laughing with their friends or siblings. The difference is unmistakable. It’s physical, emotional, developmental, and deeply neurological.
This is a photo of our son Josh, who is now an amazing Daddy to our three grand-princesses. This child loved being outdoors. He always had to dress up for whatever imaginative play he was engaging in. Check out the outfit he’s put together: an army jacket, red cowboy boots, beanie, and sunglasses while riding a tractor. 😆 It was quite the hodgepodge attire, but to him, he was ready to seize the day outside. He still knows how to embrace nature’s playground and loves the great outdoors.
Getting kids outside is one of the best things parents can do. Outdoor spaces are nature’s classrooms. It offers endless opportunities for unstructured, imaginative play that fuels creativity in a way that no screen or indoor activity can provide.
We all need movement, and children need it the most. Climbing, crawling, running, jumping, and balancing are crucial to motor skill development, strength, and coordination.
What about Vitamin D? Sunlight plays a vital role in its production, which supports bone health and strengthens children’s immune systems. Outdoor play also helps kids to sleep better and more deeplyf at night.
Studies show that time spent in green spaces reduces stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression in children and adults. Being outdoors has a calming effect, allowing children to relax, unwind, and destress. Whether it’s the wind gently blowing, the warmth of sunshine, flowers blooming, or the sounds of birds singing, nature’s playground engages the senses in ways that regulate their nervous systems.
Outdoor time can be freeing for children with attention challenges. I know this firsthand. Due to memory loss from childhood trauma and C-PTSD, I have little to no memories of my childhood, except for select beautiful memories of time outdoors. I remember playing outside from sunrise to sundown. It was a haven where I felt safe, calm, and free. It also improved my ability to focus, which is beneficial for children with ADHD.
Playtime in nature is naturally absorbing and helps children to live in the moment, where they become active participants in their joy as they entertain themselves. You don’t need a large yard to give your child the gift of nature. A small grassy area, a park, a mud puddle, or a playground will do. The key is to get outside daily if possible. Let’s build healthier, happier, stronger, and well-connected kids. So, open the door. Let them run, get dirty, scream, jump, and be wild and free. Nature not only grows trees - it grows children too.
