Why outdoor play is critical to child development
Our first early human ancestors appeared in Africa about two million years ago. For hundreds of millennia since that time, they were living outdoors and constantly moving. They were also listening, watching, feeling, sensing, and smelling the natural world around them.
Those experiences and habits, and those of thousands of generations since, have shaped how we relate to the outdoors today. Because while we don’t look exactly like our distant ancestors, we still share the same basic processes of growth and maturation and the same sensory connection to our environment.
Outdoor environments and play
Through human evolution, our brains and bodies developed in response to the demands of outdoor living. Our legs, arms, hands and feet grew more efficient for running, throwing, grasping and kicking. Our eyes, ears, mouth and nose grew better attuned to the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of the outdoors. And our brains grew responsive to all the natural stimuli so we could make sense of it.
It means that even today, our bodies and brains still need the sights and sounds of the outdoors to develop and function optimally. This is partly why children like to climb trees, swing on monkey bars, jump in puddles, and make mud pies. Two million years of biology is urging them to explore movement, and particularly in their outdoor environment.
Outdoor play in research
In recent years, brain and behavioural research has started to show how outdoor play and activity satisfies our deepest evolutionary impulses. Looking closely at outdoor play, researchers find a host of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional benefits for children:
More vigorous play
Better social skills
Enhanced cooperation
Improved problem solving
Fewer emotional difficulties
Better behaviour
Improved self-regulation
Increased happiness
Children who are given exposure to nature and outdoor play also develop better motor skills and maintain better weight.
Outdoor play is foundational
All this sensory and motor development is foundational to children’s higher-level cognition and learning. When children don’t experience the right stimuli for their sensory and motor development, that foundation is compromised.
Living in cities surrounded by digital screens and other technology, many of today’s children don’t get the experiences they need. That’s why we need to get them active, especially outdoors.
Answering the need
Outdoor active play answers the developmental needs of our children’s brains and bodies. The sights, sounds, and sensations of moving in outdoor spaces simply can’t be replicated indoors. To the degree that we can get our children running and jumping outdoors like our early ancestors, they will be smarter, happier, and healthier for it.
The opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.
Share
Related poster
Download, print, and share our poster on active play and Indigenous traditions.
