Benefits of outdoor play
What can the outdoors offer?
Spending time outdoors brings so many benefits for tamariki. The environment they are in plays a big role in how they learn, and being outside opens up endless opportunities for discovery and growth.
Outdoors, tamariki have the freedom to move in bigger ways, to make noise and express themselves fully, and to let their imaginations take flight. There are more places to explore, hide, and create their own adventures. The outdoors also invites messy play, which encourages tamariki to experiment, take risks, and try new ideas in fun and creative ways.
Richard Louv, author of 8 books about the connections between family, nature and the community, says that "children who play outside are less likely to get sick, to be stressed or become aggressive and are more adaptable to life's unpredictable turns".
When tamariki spend time outside, they naturally get plenty of physical exercise through activities like running, climbing, digging, and swinging. Moving their bodies in these ways not only supports healthy growth and development, but also helps build positive habits that can last a lifetime. Time in the sun also gives tamariki vitamin D, which is important for strong bones, teeth, and a healthy immune system.
Research tells us that movement and thinking are closely linked. When tamariki are active, their brains grow and their ability to focus and remember improves.
"The more you keep children sitting, the less attentive they become"
Dr Tony Pelligrini, American Education Researcher
Being outside also nurtures wellbeing. Tamariki often feel calmer and more relaxed in nature, which helps them to understand and manage their emotions. Free play outdoors gives them the chance to release stress, to heal, and to simply be themselves.
This connects with the mana atua strand of Te Whāriki, which reminds us that a child’s wellbeing is the foundation for all learning. By supporting tamariki to move, explore, and thrive outdoors, we are helping them to grow strong in body, mind, and spirit.
Outdoor play opens up so many possibilities for tamariki. It can look like:
- Pretend play and using their imaginations
- Getting messy and noisy
- Working together and cooperating
- Trying out new ideas and discovering what happens
- Having fun and enjoying themselves
- Building, constructing, and creating
- Lifting, carrying, and pouring
- Running, jumping, and moving their bodies in big ways
- Getting dirty or splashing in water
- Digging, planting, and caring for the natural world
- Exploring uneven ground and different heights
Outdoor play is so much more than fresh air and sunshine. It gives tamariki the freedom to explore, take risks, be creative, and build their confidence in ways that are unique to being outside. These experiences lay strong foundations for lifelong learning and wellbeing, supporting tamariki to grow up healthy, curious, and connected to the world around them.
