Outdoor play helps our children to flourish and grow

Growing up in our 21st-century Britain, children and young people need to be more than just technologically savvy. It is crucial they think critically, creatively and innovatively.

A well-established body of evidence has shown children’s and young people’s growing brains are ideally primed and supported to creatively think, and develop through playing.

They need rounded social skills - and to be ethical, reliable, resilient and adaptable. They need also to be caring and compassionate for self, others and for the world we all share, in order to be balanced and to flourish. These skills are essential not only for them to thrive but to contribute to the social good as happy, resourceful, informed and active positive citizens in this world of ever increasing challenges, not least climate change, resource depletions, conflicts and expanding inequalities.

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Play continues to be important for children and young people throughout the Autumn and Winter seasons .

Chariot riding at Highfield Adventure PlaygroundChariot riding at Highfield Adventure Playground
Chariot riding at Highfield Adventure Playground

Outdoor Play gets children and young people outside enabling them to experience fun, happiness and laughter and to continue in their development and practice life skills.

Research shows that being outdoors promotes physical activity and that drives positive health outcomes. A daily dose of fresh air and sunlight increases circulation, vitamin D, boosts immune systems, and promotes overall wellness and sleep. Children and young people who regularly spend playing time outdoors get sick less often, with some studies showing that being cold may even trigger the immune system.

Time spent in natural settings is restorative and also reduces anxiety for children, young people and for adults. Children and young people today are particularly vulnerable to the impact of stress and stress hormones so it is more important than ever.

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It is for all these reasons that partnerships like the Sheffield Play Partnership Steering Group proactively plan and deliver a suite of effective and successful Play opportunities and events to entice, encourage and support children and young people out to Play in the Autumnal and Winter months.

Now that the Government has announced the end of austerity, hopefully investment in Play initiatives such as those in Sheffield will increase even more.

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