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Active Play, also known as "Outdoor Play," has a vital role in the development and education of young children. There’s no better time than spring to take advantage of the freedom of movement outdoor play offers!
Play for Health
Research has shown time and time again that the more children play outdoors, the more active they are likely to be, and the more active they are, the less likely they are to suffer the consequences of obesity and other health problems as they grow.
In addition to preventing health problems in the future, active, outdoor play also provides children with health benefits in the present. These include:
• An increase in muscle strength and flexibility
• Opportunities for practice with both fine and gross motor skills
• Practice with balance and coordination
• An increase in cardio-respiratory endurance
• A boost in self-confidence
• A relief of stress, and a reduction in tension, by allowing children to work out emotional aspects of their everyday lives through unstructured, creative play
• Opportunities for cooperative play and socialization experiences, which are important aspects of establishing healthy interpersonal relationships
As an added bonus, research also shows that when children participate in active, outdoor play, they are more attentive and less restless when they return to the more confined environment of the classroom.
Outdoor Environment Specifics
Components
For children to truly benefit from their active play experiences, the outdoor play environment should consist of the following elements.
• The area should be set up in a manner that allows for exploration and movement.
• Play areas should be planned so the children can use them throughout the year, and the equipment supplied should allow for increasingly complex use to accommodate child development growth.
• The ideal space should also provide varied mini-environments that will offer opportunities to ride wheeled toys, places to dig and possibly to plant, and space to build and construct, sit and talk, explore and imagine, and play games and run. The addition of a small house, boat, or some other special feature can also be useful in providing children with opportunities for creative role-playing.
• The equipment used should encourage such activities as balancing, climbing, sliding, building, running, riding, digging, and swinging.
The area needs to offer the children greater freedom of interaction and movement, where they are encouraged to make their own choices, within safe boundaries, and are permitted to make lots of noise free from reprimand.
Developmental Breakdown
In addition to the general health benefits of all active play, a variety of activities also helps children develop in more specialized ways, which is why it is important to include each of the following activity areas within your outdoor space.
Balancing - A balance beam, stabilized log, or even a row of flat stones will help children improve their coordination and concentration skills.
Ball Playing – Throwing, catching, batting, and tossing balls into a basket all help children develop their muscles and improve their eye-hand coordination. Interactive ball play also teaches them to take turns, share, and depending on the game, how to work together as a team.
Climbing – Ropes, ladders, steps, and nets are an invitation to climb. Climbing helps strengthen leg and arm muscles, improve manual dexterity, and develop both general physical coordination, and eye-hand coordination.
Manipulative Play – Handling smaller toys, like sandbox toys, toy construction vehicles, and building blocks helps develop concentration, fine-motor control, and eye-hand coordination.
Riding – Toys with wheels, such as cars, trucks, wagons, tricycles, scooters, and wheelbarrows, help develop balance, eye-hand coordination, and the lower body muscles. Riding activities also strengthen the heart, lungs, and bones. An early interest in riding increases the chances that it will become a healthy pastime as the children grow.
Sliding – Whether you are able to furnish the children with a variety of sliding options or only one, this activity will help them develop leg muscles, endurance, balance, and coordination. Options to consider include straight, wavy, spiral, and tube-type slides. You may also consider taking a field trip to a local water slide.
Swinging – Swinging is one of the most carefree activities anyone can engage in. It helps develop arm muscle strength and balance, encourages cooperative play when children push each other or take turns, and helps develop socialization skills when they engage each other in conversation or song as they swing.
By providing a space that allows children to partake in all of the above activities, you will be helping them develop into happy, healthy, ready-to-learn students.
Active play is an important part of every school program. It promotes the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, increases physical strength, endurance, and coordination, and helps children learn to look after their own well-being with regard to dressing appropriately for the weather, avoiding hazards, and keeping safe. The value of daily outdoor play simply cannot be ignored.
Marie Cecchini is the author of five books and has created award-winning crafts for children. She also writes children’s poetry, as well as articles for parents, teachers and writers.
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