Barriers to Outdoor Play for Children.

It seems nowadays when many of my peers and older generations reminisce about their childhood, outdoor play is a central theme. My childhood was no expectation, neither was that of my parents or my husband. We all had childhoods filled with outdoor time, camping, exploring, and swimming in the ocean. While many aren’t as fortunate to have spent their childhood outdoors, it seems more common nowadays that fewer and fewer children actually get outside regularly. Barriers to outdoor play for children are more common than ever, below are just four of the many obstacles modern children face.

Reasons Children Don’t Play Outside

There are many different reasons children don’t play outside despite the many benefits nature has to offer. As a parent in modern society, it is crucial we find the value in outdoor time. While there are many barriers to outdoor play for children, finding time, even a few minutes each day has numerous benefits.

Technology and Screens

It’s no surprise technology and screens top the list of barriers to outdoor play. Screens and social media are used to grab our attention, making it difficult to put them down. Nature has to do something it never did in the past- it must compete with technology. TV, video games, smartphones, and social media are all addicting, especially to children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends zero screen time for children under 2 and limited screen time for children aged 2 to 5. Not all screen time is created equal and there is a place for technology in our homes. When we are able to limit screen time it will provide more opportunities for outdoor activities.

Overextended Schedules

Children these days are busier than ever. Between school, extracurricular activities, athletics, and homework it leaves very little time for outdoor play. Academic pressure on our children adds to the stress and availability of unstructured activities. Hours and hours of homework, after long school days and other activities are draining. As a result, children are left with little time or desire to be outside.

Lack of accessible outdoor spaces

Most families live in urban areas with limited outdoor spaces. Parks, playgrounds, and other green areas are far and few between. Oftentimes, they have rules of what can and can’t be done, leaving children with very limited options for unstructured and safe outdoor play. If children are fortunate to find parks with green space, it is mostly lawns with very little room for exploration. In a similar sense, playgrounds are often not updated, too small, or not accessible to children with special needs.

Parental Preferences

There are many reasons parents don’t encourage outdoor play. Safety, strangers, Lyme disease, accidents, the sun, and general outdoor preferences, are all reasons parents may opt to keep their child indoors. If you didn’t grow up with nature or see the value in the outdoors, it probably influences your decisions as to where your children spend their time. Parents are hesitant to send their children outdoors when there are many things that can go wrong. However, we must find the value in outdoor time for our children’s well-being.

How to Encourage Children to Play Outside?

Spending time outdoors is beneficial not only to your children but to you as well. While barriers are present, it is important to recognize the value nature has. Outdoor play benefits a child’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. As a parent, it is our job to foster growth and development in our children the best way we can. One simple way to do that is to get outside!