It’s no secret that kids today are spending more time indoors—often in front of screens—than ever before. While indoor activities might be convenient, they don’t offer the same long-term developmental benefits that outdoor play provides.
Spending time outside does more than entertain your child—it helps them grow stronger, learn important social skills, and boost their emotional well-being in ways that screen time simply can’t.
A Shift Toward Screens
In recent years, screen use among children has grown significantly. From watching shows to playing video games, many kids are spending hours each day on devices instead of engaging in active, imaginative, or social play.
Outdoor play may take a bit more planning or supervision, but even short periods outside—like time in the backyard—can make a big impact on your child’s health and habits.
Make Outdoor Time a Daily Routine
Getting outside isn’t just about staying active—it plays a vital role in supporting mental health, building confidence, and encouraging healthy brain development. Aim to treat outdoor time as part of your child’s daily rhythm, just like homework, dinner, or getting ready for bed.
How Outdoor Play Benefits the Body
Running, jumping, climbing, and playing games like tag or hopscotch all help kids build strength, coordination, and body awareness. These kinds of activities also help children feel more confident in their physical abilities.
With nearly 1 in 3 kids in the U.S. considered overweight or obese, encouraging daily outdoor activity can help prevent chronic health issues while promoting a healthy weight and lifestyle.
More physical benefits include:
- Lower risk of health conditions like asthma, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes
- Natural intake of vitamin D from sunlight
- Less risk of nearsightedness thanks to more time focusing on distant objects
- Better sleep, mood, and overall energy levels
Supporting the Mind Through Outdoor Play
Outdoor play isn’t only good for the body—it’s good for the brain, too. Being outside supports better attention spans, stronger memory, and more restful sleep.
When kids play freely with others, they also learn how to take turns, solve problems, and manage social situations—skills that build emotional intelligence and mental flexibility.
Nature encourages curiosity, creative thinking, and a sense of exploration that often gets lost in structured indoor environments.
Building Emotional Strength
Unstructured outdoor play teaches children to take healthy risks, be independent, and recover from setbacks. Whether they’re trying something new, climbing a tree, or making up their own games, these experiences build confidence and resilience.
Emotional benefits include:
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Increased self-confidence through new experiences
- Emotional regulation through physical activity
- A sense of freedom and independence not often found indoors
No Park? No Problem. The Backyard Works Too
You don’t need a big playground to encourage active play. Your own backyard—or even a sidewalk chalk game or nature scavenger hunt—can be enough to get your child moving and engaged.
Experts recommend school-aged children get several hours of active play each day. Outdoor time is one of the most fun and effective ways to reach that goal.
Questions About Outdoor Play?
If your child is reluctant to go outside or you’re unsure how to encourage active play, we’re here to help. Contact Elmwood Pediatrics at (585) 244-9720 to talk with a pediatric expert.
Sources:
- The Benefits of Outdoor Play for Kids – All Kids Bike
- The Benefits of Outdoor Play in Child Development – Miracle Recreation
- The Benefits of Outdoor Play: Why It Matters – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
