5 tips for outdoor play with play ideas to match

Be healthy and play outdoors

There is nothing like fresh air and sunshine so encourage your children to be outdoors whenever possible. The outdoors provides a wonderful “playground” that can be explored in so many different ways. If you have a garden of your own, then it’s really easy to get out there and play. If you don’t, make a visit to your nearest green area as part of your routine every day if possible. Make the most of playground and outdoor equipment. Set them up in different ways to stimulate play. Your child may choose to make changes and that’s great as long as it is safe.

Play idea: Try a classic game of tag or hide and seek to keep moving

Be outdoors through the year

Make the most of all seasons by getting out there with your children. This will show them that it’s okay to be outdoors in all reasonable weather. Put on gumboots and rain jackets and jump in puddles on rainy days. Experience rain showers. Catch rainwater. Play in mud. Fly kites on windy days. Make snow figures if you have snow. Learn about the seasons together and follow your children’s urges. They will show you the best way to play outdoors!

Play idea: Search the garden to make some play soup with the ingredients that the season offers.

Be a collector of outdoor treasures

Nature provides so much to play with. Sticks, stones, petals, grass, sand, leaves, branches, bark and shells (if you can get to a beach). A favourite memory of mine is watching my girls play fish and chip shop with leaves for fish and sticks for chips. It happens to be a favourite memory of theirs too! If you can, help your child collect what they are interested in and have a collection box of loose parts from nature so that these can be used in play whenever the urge happens!

Play idea: Collect outdoor loose parts in a box and see what your child does with them

Be aware of plants and insects

Know your garden or local park. Not all plants should be handled by children so learn what is safe and what is not. Educate your children so they can be safe and learn that not everything can be touched. The same applies to insects. The insect world is fascinating but should also be respected. If children know this, they will most likely choose to play in an area that doesn’t interfere with the insects doing their work.

Play idea: Use insect toys or make insects using, for example bottle caps, sticks and pipe cleaners. Set up an insect play world with sand, sticks and leaves in a trough.

Be open to trying something new

If your child loves indoor play and is into for example, doll or car play, help to create a play set up in your garden. Obviously you have to be happy with what is taken outdoors. Small toys with small parts could be easily lost but bigger toys should be fine. Children are often stimulated in their play if new things are taken outdoors. Setting up play outdoors offers different experiences and new play opportunities.

Play idea: Use animal or dinosaur figurines to set up a habitat for the animals using outdoor resources like leaves and sticks

Happy playing!

Lynette