The Benefits of Outdoor Play: Why Preschoolers Need Time in Nature

Outdoor play is an essential part of any early learning program. Young children have lots of energy and curiosity about the world around them. Expecting preschoolers to sit and learn all day isn’t appropriate. Instead, early learning programs must provide many ways for children to move, play, and explore.

When searching for a preschool near you, look for a learning center that offers lots of outdoor play. The program should provide plenty of outdoor playtime and an exciting, enriching natural play space.

Introducing nature in preschool isn’t just fun–it’s critical to your child’s development! This article will explore the benefits of outdoor play. You will learn why it’s important for young children to play outdoors. You’ll also discover how spending time in nature can help preschoolers develop essential skills for kindergarten and beyond.

Contact the dedicated educators at Little Sunshine Preschool now to explore our early learning programs. We are also happy to help you schedule a tour. We look forward to welcoming your family to our learning center soon!

Table of Contents

• The Benefits of Outdoor Play in Preschool

  • Emotional regulation

  • Confidence

  • Cognitive skills

  • Improved physical health

  • Creativity

  • Responsibility

  • Attention

• How to Incorporate More Outdoor Play in Your Day

The Benefits of Outdoor Play in Preschool

Young children are born to move, learn, and explore. The early years are a time of incredible growth and development. Nurturing children’s curiosity and learning is essential.

Enriching your child during the preschool years does not have to be complicated or expensive. Outdoor play is one of the best ways to help children develop essential physical, mental, and emotional skills. These skills can benefit them throughout their lives.

Here are just a few of the many benefits of outdoor play for young children.

Emotional regulation

Research has shown that people of all ages benefit from spending time in the natural world. Spending time in natural green spaces has been shown to improve mood and help people regulate their emotions.

When children spend time in nature, they may feel happier and less stressed. Increased physical activity in an outdoor play area can lead to better focus and attention in the classroom. Children who play outdoors frequently often have fewer behavioral problems and improved overall functioning.

Confidence

Running, jumping, climbing, and exploring can boost kids’ confidence levels. Children who play outdoors may try new things and develop more confidence in their abilities.

Cognitive skills

Outdoor play can help children develop problem-solving skills. They may have better attention spans and an increased ability to focus and retain information.

Improved physical health

Playing and participating in outdoor activities can improve young children’s health. Fresh air, sunshine, and plenty of physical activity can result in stronger bodies, better balance, and more effective immune systems.

Children develop better coordination and large motor skills during outdoor play. These skills can benefit them throughout childhood. The more time spent outdoors, the more significant the health improvements for young children are likely to be.

Creativity

Spending time outdoors can boost kids’ creativity and improve their problem-solving abilities. Children grow more creative when given the chance to play in nature.

Responsibility

Spending time in nature teaches children important lessons about personal responsibility. For example, they may learn about the effects of littering by seeing trash in their outdoor play area. They may also learn that plants will die if they do not receive enough water.

Children must also be aware of potential danger and take steps to keep themselves safe. For instance, they may learn about sharp sticks or stones on the ground and choose to wear sturdy shoes.

Attention

Research has found that children who spend time in an outdoor space often have longer attention spans than those who do not. Being active and getting fresh air can have a calming, balancing effect on children. These benefits show up in better attention spans, more focus, and fewer behavioral issues in the classroom.

The benefits of outdoor play are clear. Parents and educators can easily incorporate nature and outdoor time into their children’s daily schedules.

How to Incorporate More Outdoor Play in Your Day

You don’t need large or extravagant outdoor play areas to get the benefits of outdoor play. Here is a list of simple things you can do to get the benefits of being outside:

• Design a simple nature scavenger hunt. Ask your child to find common natural items like feathers, rocks, and leaves. Ask older children to find more complex items, such as a stick shaped like a letter of the alphabet or a specific kind of leaf.

• Eat outdoors. Take your snacks or meals outdoors. Spread out a picnic blanket or find an outdoor table. Soak up the sights and sounds of nature as you eat.

• Explore new parks or natural areas near you. Let your child lead your exploration. Allow them to spend as much time as they want examining leaves, bugs, and other natural things.

• Play simple games outdoors. Throw a ball or frisbee, jump rope, or kick a soccer ball. Set up a badminton net in the yard and play as a family.

• Take an evening walk around the neighborhood and talk about the birds, animals, and plants you notice. Stop at any local parks or little free libraries you see along the way.

Spending more time in nature can have significant benefits. Contact Little Sunshine Preschool now to learn more about how we encourage outdoor play. Explore our early learning programs or schedule a tour. We look forward to meeting your family soon!