> **Healthylife** — Healthylife Pharmacy | Your online health destination > [Products](https://www.healthylife.com.au/browse) · [Health Hub](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn) > > --- # Why is outdoor play important for children? 2 September 2021·2 min read ![Young girl having fun and playing in the water in the bush](https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3e01c88d-6d32-0086-9f07-7574b3104890/6bf5176d-85c2-43ea-b954-ef66412f92a4/kids-and-nature.jpg?quality=75&auto=format) Spread the word [](https://x.com/share?url=https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/why-is-outdoor-play-important-for-children "x sharing")[](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/why-is-outdoor-play-important-for-children "facebook sharing")[]( "email sharing") [Add us as a preferred source](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=Healthylife.com.au) ### Jump to Once upon a time, not so long ago, parents all over Australia used to open their doors and send their kids outside for the day. They trusted that their kids would come home when they were tired, hungry or when the streetlights came on. And while this practice has changed (in most circumstances), children’s need to connect with nature hasn’t.  ## The benefits of nature play for children Why is outdoor play important for children? [A 2019 study by Journal of Environmental Psychology](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494418307102#bib10) concluded, “children who live near nature and spend more time in nature experience more well-being, have better social skills, and hold more environmentally friendly attitudes.” An unofficial study\* conducted in the healthylife offices also found that letting children run free in wide-open spaces was beneficial to parental sanity. \*Not an actual study.\* ![A girl is standing outside in a green, leafy environment looking happy as her parents wonder why outdoor play is important for children.](https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3e01c88d-6d32-0086-9f07-7574b3104890/076a91ba-e970-4c5e-80d5-139c099020ea/why-is-outdoor-play-important-for-children.jpg?quality=75&auto=format) As far as what outdoor activities you should be doing with your kids, there’s no wrong answer. ## **Nature play ideas**  It can be hard to find the time in a busy week to connect with nature, but there are some ways you can make it easier for yourself.  We recommend scheduling time on your [kid’s routine chart](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/kids-routine-chart), going for a ten-minute bushwalk on the way home from school or exploring the nearby scrub after soccer training.    As far as what outdoor activities you should be doing with your kids, there’s no wrong answer. Here’s some ideas to get you started.  ### **Nature play ideas for toddlers**  - explore dirt or sand without worrying about getting dirty - water the plants in the yard - freeze leaves in ice cubes and watch them melt - collect rocks or shells ### **Nature play ideas for preschoolers**  - make some mud pies - draw a list of items found in nature to create a scavenger hunt  - pick and arrange flowers  - start a shell, rock or feather collection - trace some leaves ### **Nature play ideas for primary aged kids**  - create art with all-natural/found materials - build a tent with sticks - create paint with water and rocks  - learn how to (safely) climb a tree  ![A girl is smelling a sunflower in a large field of sunflowers looking very happy which may be a benefit of nature play for children. ](https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/3e01c88d-6d32-0086-9f07-7574b3104890/df67ec5e-3507-4f7d-b352-d0922b6362b6/benefits-of-nature-play-for-children.jpg?quality=75&auto=format) Encouraging your children to spend time in nature is a great way to limit how much screen time they have. ## **Keeping teens connected to nature**  Getting tweens or teens to ‘play’ in nature isn’t as hard as you may think. Surfing, camping, mountain biking, snowboarding and bushwalking are all forms of play. So is taking the dog for a run at the local reserve.  Parents can help teens stay connected to nature by paying attention to the nature activities they enjoy and helping facilitate them. If nothing else, encouraging your children to spend time in nature is a great way to limit [how much screen time they have](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/how-much-screen-time-should-kids-have). **Related:** - [How do I support my daughter through first period?](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/signs-your-daughter-is-about-to-start-her-period) - [How do I support my kids navigate their first relationships](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/teenage-crush-facts) - [Minimalism with children](https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/how-to-be-a-minimalist-parent)  Reviewed by the healthylife Advisory Board August 2021. Spread the word [](https://x.com/share?url=https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/why-is-outdoor-play-important-for-children "x sharing")[](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.healthylife.com.au/learn/why-is-outdoor-play-important-for-children "facebook sharing")[]( "email sharing") This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. If you have any concerns or questions about your health you should consult with a health professional. --- **About Healthylife**: Find everything you need for a healthy life: Shop over 15,000 curated health products, pharmacy, fact-checked health information, telehealth & health programs. **Useful links**: [Customer Support](https://www.healthylife.com.au/contact-us) · [Browse All](https://www.healthylife.com.au/browse)