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There are plenty of reasons to introduce outdoor play to a child's life, particularly since so many youngsters spend time indoors on electronic devices. Families' lifestyles have changed a lot since the mid-20th century, when siblings would spend a lot of time playing together outside.
With the onset of video gaming consoles, mobile devices and 24-hour television with hundreds of channels, kids' leisure activities in the 21st century have changed. Now, health experts are promoting the importance of outdoor playtime for physical and mental wellbeing.
How have children's games changed?
Kids' playtime reflects the culture and opportunities of the era in which they live. Going back to the post-war years of the 1950s, many families in the UK were still recovering from the austerity of the previous decade. A lot of kids had to help with household chores and then they would go out to play afterwards.
For those who couldn't afford toys, a lot of children made up their own games and would spend all their leisure time outdoors during the school holidays. The lucky ones might have a bike, while some made their own go-kart, or took a small toy boat to the local lake.
Playing rounders in the street, building sandcastles on the beach, kicking a football about, playing marbles, or enjoying the swings and slide at the local park were all cheap outdoor games that all the local children could enjoy.
Then, as the 20th century progressed, industries began devoting themselves exclusively to kids' entertainment. Computer games, TV channels, movies, expensive sports equipment and clothing, snacks, food and drinks were all aimed exclusively at young people.
As the culture has changed, particularly with new technology, families and childhood have also changed. Kids' lives today are very different from those of our ancestors.
What are the benefits of being outdoors?
As children's lifestyles have become less active and increasingly sedentary, there has been an increase in obesity. According to the National Child Measurement Programme, 14% of reception children aged four to five are obese and 13% are overweight. At age ten and 11, 25% of children are obese and 15% are overweight.
The number of obese reception age children has increased by 9.9% since 2019/20, while the number of obese 10 and 11-year-olds has increased by 21% in the same period.
Research by Harvard Health concludes there are many reasons children need to play outside. Being outdoors in the sunshine, when wearing the correct sun cream, is good for our body, as it helps us make vitamin D, which plays a key role in bone development and aiding our immune system.
Children need to be active for a minimum of one hour every day to keep healthy - and going outside to play is a way of ensuring this happens. Research shows parents who are over-anxious about the potential risks to their children from playing outdoors make their kids less confident.
While there's always a risk, such as possible injury from falling when climbing a tree, children need to build the confidence to try new things to enable them to face life's challenges as they grow up.
What games can children try?
There are many different games that parents, guardians and childcare providers can set up for kids to enjoy in the summer. One of the simplest is the traditional game, follow the leader, where one person is the leader and everyone else has to copy what they do including actions, movements and sounds.
As well as being a fun activity for younger children, psychologists say it has educational value. The child chooses the activity, so is encouraged to have more confidence and develop leadership skills. It is also suggested that following the leader is beneficial for children with ASD, as it helps them learn through observing and following other people's behaviour.
Another fun and somewhat messy game is water balloon wars! A great game for a hot day, you fill small balloons with cold water and have a stash of "ammunition" ready for action in boxes before you start. Split into two teams and then run wild throwing water balloons at the opposition! You can also use wet sponges as an alternative.
Create a "Summer Olympics" that lasts a whole day or even a week, with plenty of different events for your kids. They don't have to be sporting events, although stuff like the 100-metre dash and relay races are popular. You can also include events such as who can keep their hula-hoop up for longest, the egg and spoon race, the three-legged race and sack races.
A scavenger hunt is a popular outdoor activity that requires kids to find and collect items hidden around the garden. This can be done as individuals, or by joining forces as a team. The hidden items can include just about anything, from small toys to specific flowers. Hide the items in small Really Useful Boxes to keep them clean, especially if there are sweets involved.
Finally, the old-fashioned game of "tag" is still a winner for getting kids to run around in the garden on a summer's day. It's a simple game that children of all ages can play. First, choose a child to be "it". Then, their job is to chase everyone around, touch another person and shout "tag". The tagged person is then "it" and the game can continue indefinitely. It can create hours of fun and will wear everyone out – so a good night’s sleep is almost certain!
Outdoor games are a wonderful way of enjoying playtime with your children. They’re great exercise, foster team spirit, develop creativity and help kids learn how to share and take turns.