Is outdoor play better than indoor play?

Research shows one of the benefits of indoor play is that it encourages creativity and critical thinking. In addition, other benefits of indoor play include a lower risk of injury and a convenient alternative for rainy days. However, research suggests that children can’t develop to their maximum potential just by playing inside. While the benefits of indoor play are vast, by missing out on outdoor play children also miss out on the opportunity to connect with nature and socialise. One of the main benefits of outdoor play is that it allows children to learn by experience, allowing them to make sense of the world around them and use their imaginations. Playing outside also gives children the opportunity to socialise, make lots of friends and consequently be much happier. Exercise and physical activity have consistently been proven to improve mental wellbeing and symptoms of ADHD. Additionally, sunlight is an excellent source of vitamin D, which is important for heart and bone health. The benefits of playing outside are not overshadowed by the disadvantages, but it is essential to keep these in mind, such as kids being more susceptible to illness or injury. So, is playing outside better than playing inside? No! There are many benefits of outdoor play, just as there are many benefits of indoor play. By playing both outdoors and indoors, children get the benefits of outdoor play and the benefits of indoor play. Because the benefits of indoor play and the benefits of outdoor play are significantly different, children who engage in both reap more benefits and are better off in the long run.

Children can engage their senses in different ways outside compared to through indoor play, especially when it is in a natural or unpredictable space. Outdoor play in wooded or 'wild' environments, like at a Forest School gives children the opportunity to move around on unpredictable and challenging surfaces, and to experience different textures, sounds and weather. This helps children to enhance their learning about balance, body awareness and coordination. Developing balance and proprioception can be achieved through activities such as swinging, lifting and carrying and climbing. Movement indoors can provide opportunities for children to develop fine and gross motor skills via unstructured and structured play. Positive play spaces allow children to engage in movement that is energetic and builds strength, which is good for social interactions, and allows them to make choices about whether to play alone or with others.

Outdoor play definitely enhances indoor play. Something we quickly noticed when we began to spend more time outside was that our inside time became smoother, calmer, and more enjoyable. Outdoor play boosts the imagination. When we play outside we don't take toys along so everything is pretend. The more time you are away from new toys, the longer they seem new. There is an added excitement to play with the toys in the home when you've been gone from them for the day. Outdoor play keeps your house cleaner, which makes playing more fun. More time outside leads to cleaner floors and cleaner floors lead to better indoor playing. Outdoor play keeps kids from screens. What I quickly noticed with outdoor time was that it pushed screen time out of our week because we ran out of time for it. In this way, outdoor play has dramatically improved our indoor play time because I don't have kids bugging to watch cartoons all the time.