Social Benefits of Outdoor Playing

Human beings have social needs. We all need family and friends to live a happy and healthy life. Just like adults, kids also have these needs and it is important to enhance their social skills at an early age to live a communal adulthood. Once again, outdoor playing helps in this area just like it aids in the physical and emotional growth of kids.

Playgrounds expose kids to experiences necessary for their physical, emotional, and social growth. Since I have talked enough about the first two aspects, I will be revealing how playing outdoor makes kids socially sound.

Why Kids Like Playing Outdoors?
It sure is difficult to motivate kids to play outside as they are magnetically attracted to digital screens, but once you take them, they love spending time outdoors. If you ask a kid why they like to play outdoors so much, one of the reasons they give is it gives them a chance to meet their friends and talk to them.

In the formal classroom settings, they have restrictions that inhibit their social growth, and same is the case at homes. They need to do homework, have lunch and dinner on time, prepare their bags and uniform for school the next day when they go home. Such robotic life doesn’t let them grow socially. Therefore, it is advisable to take your kids to a nearby playground for at least an hour regularly.

Playing in Group vs. Playing Alone

There may or may not be other kids in the playground when you take your children to play. The playground equipment and commercial playground equipment make a complex social network when kids play in groups. These tools teach them everyday lessons such as behaving in groups, waiting for their turns, interacting with peers, social norms, and most importantly, skills to build relationships. Furthermore, it makes them proficient in negotiations and teaches them self-control.

Now, you must be thinking playing alone is a waste, right? Well, that’s not true! Do not take your little ones back home if there are no kids in the playground to play with them. Many people think playing alone makes kids shy. On the contrary, it makes them independent and promotes imagination and creativity in them. Moreover, it removes boredom and improves their observation because they learn social cues by watching kids playing at a distance.

Inclusive Playing 

I won’t be wrong if I say inclusive playing is the second name for social playing. Inclusion is of great importance that children learn from inclusive playing. According to a research, children value the kids in their minds who play with them. The fruits of such social games are ripped later in the adulthood because children who had the exposure to outdoor playing become socially sound.

However, disabled children are unable to learn social skills most of the times because of surfacing or lack of inclusive equipment for them. Therefore, ensuring inclusive playground equipment for both disabled and non-disabled kids is one way to improve society.

How Restrictions in Playing Effects Children’s Well-Being?

Unreasonable restrictions in children’s playing have created many negative impacts on children’s learning abilities. If we look at the reasons behind these restrictions, we find both the negative and positive aspects. The limitations are meant to ensure safety within playground structures; however, they can limit children’s learning, confidence, and independence. According to experts, children are needed to get out and play in order to grow and advance, and such restrictions can be a hindrance in their path of learning.

Not only does it create individual problems, they also create social problems. When children are being restricted from being independent while playing, their social skills do not develop as much they need to be. They become slower in problem-solving and find difficulty in coping with stress and depression in adulthood.

According to a research, most of the children and teenagers who are bad at fighting depression and anxiety face a lot of limitations in play. We come across several examples where kids are being stopped from playing independently as a safety measure. Up to some extent, it’s correct, but the elders should make sure the restrictions they are putting aren’t unreasonable for kids.

Children, especially school going kids, should be given a free access to preschool playground equipment when they are allowed to play outside. Kids love exploring and discovering new things; therefore, let them do it. Moreover, it is important to note that every kid is different with unique mental and physical abilities. As a result, his observations and learning capabilities also differ, but all kids need independence to be creative.