The rise of technology has many benefits, from better communication to increased access to
information. However, an increased time spent online appears to have come at the cost of
spending time outside. This is prevalent from studies, like that conducted by the Child
Mind Institute, which indicated that the average American child spends just 7 minutes
engaging in unstructured play outside per day, while spending over 7 hours in front of a
screen (see 1st reference details below). There are multiple logical reasons for this, notably that screen time is often the
easiest way to occupy children, with no need for tantrums involving sunscreen or a lengthy
trip to the nearest green space. Parents also often see it as safer, with no risk of injury or
disease. This has become particularly prevalent during the pandemic, with fear of infection
and lockdown rules making outdoor play even less common. Studies have indicated that
spending time outside has the capacity to significantly benefit the health, development, and
education of youngsters in a variety of ways, some of which have been outlined in the
following article.

Firstly outdoor play provides an opportunity for youngsters to exercise, something
paramount to their physical health. The relationship between good health and is well
researched and the role exercise plays in controlling weight and maintaining muscle
strength is well established. Yet, obesity in children is an increasing problem, with the House
of Commons reporting that as many as 9.9% of reception children (4-5 year olds) are
categorised as obese, with a further 13.1% categorised as overweight.(see 2nd reference details below). Younger children are
often not yet engaged in team sports at school so outdoor play is a prime opportunity to get
them to exercise. The percentage of children categorised as obese increases as they get
older, with as many as 20.1% of 10-11 year olds classified as obese, with a further 14.1%
falling into the bracket of overweight (see 3rd reference details below). As children get older, not only are the health
drawbacks of obesity increasingly harmful, but tackling obesity becomes increasingly
difficult. As such, the younger and earlier these problems are tackled, the less likely they are
to persist into adulthood. Children who are clinically obese will likely be adversely affected
throughout their lives as they are increasingly likely to develop heart problems and
diabetes. The National Institute for Health Research found that overweight individuals had a
28% increase risk of developing heart disease than people of a healthy weight (see 4th reference details below). Thus,
outside play, particularly in young children, who do not yet participate in school sports, is an
essential way in keeping children a healthy weight, decreasing their chances of developing
health problems later in life.

Equally, exercise has been shown to be important in fostering and maintaining good mental
health in youngsters. A study published by the World Health organisation found that
engaging in moderate exercise, even for as little as an hour a week, goes a meaningful wayin preventing and managing poor mental health (see 5th reference details below). It has been seen to reduce anxiety and
stress in children which in turn has been linked to promoting better sleep. A study of two to
five year olds found that those who play outdoors sleep better at night, as the combination
of exposure to natural light and exercise significantly reduces stress (see 6th reference details below).

Exercise and outdoor play, while beneficial to all children has also been shown to be
particularly important in helping those with special educational needs such as ADHD. A
study published by the University of Vermont, showed that frequent physical exercise can
decrease the severity of ADHD symptoms and improve cognitive functioning. They saw that
as little as half an hour a day of moderate exercise had a measurable impact on the mood
and focus of students suffering from ADHD (see 7th reference details below). Dr Betzy Hoza, the lead researcher of the study,
clarified that while exercise was not a miracle cure for ADHD, its impact was significant as it
made the children feel better and improved their ability to concentrate. She stressed that
despite its disproportionate benefit for those with ADHD, it should be undertaken by all
children, as it improves cognitive functioning, benefitting all in some way.

Exercise is not the only way in which outdoor activity benefits children, with the effects of
Vitamin D also playing a role in maintaining good physical and mental health. Physically,
Vitamin D is important in regulating the quantity of calcium and phosphate in the body,
nutrients which are essential in bone and muscle development. Children who do not gain
enough Vitamin D run the risk of developing rickets, which causes pain in the bones and in
extreme cases can lead to deformities. In terms of mental health, studies have also found
that Vitamin D is important in regulating mood, and scientists have increasingly began to
link Vitamin D deficiency as a factor in depression (see 8th reference details below).

In terms of development, outdoor play has also been cited as significant in fostering skills
such as creativity, troubleshooting and multitasking. In leaving children to unstructured play
outdoors, they must entertain themselves and thus be creative and adapt to the
environment they are in. Activities such as inventing games using the natural resources
around them is a good way to encourage them to use their imagination. Interaction with
wildlife, such as bugs, also teaches responsibility as they will die if not handled with care.
Equally, when left to unstructured play with other children, they can foster social skills,
engaging with those around them without the input of adults and teachers. A study
conducted by UCL’s Institute of Education on behalf of The Wildlife trust found that 79%
reported having better relationships with their peers having spent time with them
outdoors (see 9th reference details below). This study also found that structured outdoor play was equally beneficial in fostering good relationships between children and their elders, with 81% of children stating
they had a better relationship with their teachers after spending time outdoors with them (see 10th reference details below).
Therefore, both structured and unstructured play has positive a social effect on children.

Additionally, outdoor play has been linked with confidence building, with activities outdoors
such as tree climbing, requiring children to take risks, thus increasing their confidence. The
aforementioned study conducted by UCL’s Institute of Education also found that 79% of
children felt more confident in themselves having spent time partaking in an outdoor
activity (see 11th reference details below). This confidence is significant as it prepares children to be better equipped for the
inevitable risks and challenges they will encounter throughout their lives.

Ultimately, spending time outdoors benefits children in a range of ways, leading to better
physical and mental health, as well as improving sleep and aiding cognitive and social
development. Therefore, take advantage of the warmer weather and longer days and
encourage your children to engage in some structured and unstructured exercise and play
outdoors.

Written by our intern Milly Farquhar.

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1 Danielle Cohen. “Why Kids need to Spend Time in Nature”, Child Mind Institute, Accessed 11 th June 2021,
https://childmind.org/article/why-kids-need-to-spend-time-in-nature/
2 Carl Barker. “Obesity Statistics”, House of Commons Library, 11 th January 2021, Accessed 14 th June 2021.
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn03336/
3 Carl Barker. “Obesity Statistics”, House of Commons Library, 11 th January 2021, Accessed 14 th June 2021.
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn03336/
4 National Institute for Health Research. “Being overweight is linked to heart disease even without other
metabolic risk factors, 7 th November 2017, accessed 14 th June 2021. https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/being-
overweight-or-obese-is-linked-with-heart-disease-even-without-other-metabolic-risk-factors/

5 World Health Organization. MhGAP Community Toolkit: Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP). Report.
World Health Organization, 2019. 38-62. Accessed June 14, 2020
6 K.J. Coyle “Green Time for Sleep Time: Three Ways Nature and Outdoor Time Improve Your Child’s Sleep: A
Guide for Parents and Caregivers:. Reston, VA: National Wildlife Federation. 2011.
7 Rae Jacobson. “ADHD and Exercise”, Child Mind Institute, Accessed 14 th June 2021.
https://childmind.org/article/adhd-and-exercise/
8 R. Jorde, M. Sneve, Y. Figenschau J.Svarthberg and K.Waterloo. Effects of vitamin D supplementation on
symptoms of depression in overweight and obese subjects: randomized double blind trial. Journal of Internal
Medicine, (2008) 264: 599-609

9 UCL Institute of Education. “Spending more time in nature can improve young people’s confidence”. 7 th
November 2019, Accessed 14 th June 2021. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2019/nov/spending-more-time-
nature-can-improve-young-peoples-confidence
10 UCL Institute of Education. “Spending more time in nature can improve young people’s confidence”. 7 th
November 2019, Accessed 14 th June 2021. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2019/nov/spending-more-time-
nature-can-improve-young-peoples-confidence
11 UCL Institute of Education. “Spending more time in Nature”,
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2019/nov/spending-more-time-nature-can-improve-young-peoples-
confidence

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Bibliography:
Barker, Carl. “Obesity Statistics”, House of Commons Library, 11 th January 2021, Accessed
14 th June 2021. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn03336/
Cohen, Danielle. “Why Kids need to Spend Time in Nature”, Child Mind Institute, Accessed
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Coyle. KJ. “Green Time for Sleep Time: Three Ways Nature and Outdoor Time Improve Your
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https://childmind.org/article/adhd-and-exercise/
Jorde, R., Sneve, M., Figenschau, Y., Svartberg, J. and Waterloo, K. Effects of vitamin D
supplementation on symptoms of depression in overweight and obese subjects: randomized
double blind trial. Journal of Internal Medicine, (2008) 264: 599-609

Kinsner, Kathy. "Fresh Air, Fun, and Exploration: Why Outdoor Play Is Essential for Healthy
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