Outdoor Free Play

When children play outdoors they are provided with opportunity for growth, learning, and development.

The movement to get kids running around outdoors has strong scientific support.  Here are some ways to let your children cut loose.

1. Schedule Unscheduled Play
It sounds counter intuitive, but in this hyper-organized world, being intention is essential. Block off one day a week so that a critical mass of kids have free time after school. It can happen anywhere—at the park or walking home from school. The only organized part is the day of the week. Once you have a bunch of kids together, without an adult to ask what to do, everything kicks in: problem solving, empathy, creativity, imagination.

2. Strive for Balance

Find pockets here and there to let them be a kid on their own terms. How much free play do they need? “Some is better than none and more is better than some.”

3. Become a Hummingbird Parent

If your child is too young to play unsupervised, train yourself to be a hummingbird, not a helicopter—one who hovers at a distance. Watch kids from kitchen window or let them explore the periphery of the park on their own, Swoop in only if your child is in mortal danger. That’s a technique you can learn.

4.Engage Them Afterwards

After your child finishes playing, ask them to tell you about their adventures. Showing interest sends the message that their independence is valued and matters. 

We hope you are able to let your little one enjoy some outside time!