Did you know outdoor play fosters children’s intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development? Being a ‘nature kid’ and playing outside, surrounded by a natural environment, has been shown to stimulate the senses and promote creativity.

In this blog, we look at the many benefits of encouraging nature play.

Confidence

Playing in nature is less structured for children than indoor play activities. From the backyard to the local park, allowing your child to choose how they engage in nature can boost their confidence. It allows your child to be in charge and control their own actions. This may include jumping in puddles, collecting shells at the beach, or collecting rocks to add to their collection.

Creativity

Being a nature kid allows for imagination and creativity through unstructured play. Your child can think on their own and freely to create their own activities and be inventive.

Gratitude

By engaging in nature, it allows children to be in touch with how things around them grow. It encourages gratitude for the world around us and how we can look after the environment. Just like watching their favourite flower grow in the garden requires watering and nurturing.

Stimulation

Nature provides for a different style of stimulation through the senses. Your child can touch, smell, see and hear different environments. It engages and activates the senses much more than screen time.

Exercise

When outside, most of the time it will get kids moving. A simple walk through the park will get their blood pumping without being too strenuous.

Wonder

Being in nature will make your children think and wonder. Encourage children to ask questions about what they are seeing or touching. Nature has a wonderful way of teaching children how the environment around them works and the life that it supports.

Pleasure

Being in a natural environment allows us to ignore any other distractions that may be playing on our mind and in doing so can reduce stress and anxiety in children. Nature is known to create feelings of pleasure in children in all ages.

And what is good for kids is also good for parents. Do not be afraid to join in on the fun!

Tiny Terrors is an award winning in-home parenting and behaviour support agency providing a range of services that will help you raise a more competent and confident child. You can reach out to us for more information and email us to schedule an appointment.