When my children were little I would tell them to go outside and play for 30 minutes. I would call my neighbor friends who would tell their children the same thing. We were fortunate that all the parents in the neighborhood believed in the benefit of outdoor play.

We emphasized the 30-minute rule. The children went outside in all types of weather. Thirty-minutes gave them enough time to get involved in a game or project and often they would be outside a lot longer. (My husband often would come home from work at 6:15 and find the children playing in the front yard in the dark.) They would play games, sing songs, build forts, ride bikes, create plays and play all types of games of imagination. They would love the unstructured time to explore and learn about life.

Today, I don’t see many children playing outside. I’m worried that in an attempt to provide the best for our children, many parents are driving their children to structured activities and giving them all the latest technology, but they have forgotten a key component to childhood. Children need unstructured play and they need to play with children of different ages, such as in a neighborhood. They need fresh air and the sense of wonder that comes with exploration of the outdoors.

They need to use their imaginations. The benefits of playing outdoors are many. My children gained independence and learned how to resolve conflicts. They learned how to get a long with friends and how to cooperate with others. They enjoyed the benefits of physical exercise. They learned how to cope when things didn’t go their way. They learned how to express their opinions and persuade others to follow their ideas.

In his book, Brain Rules, John Medina shares his thoughts on the importance of exercise, “To improve your thinking skills, move. Exercise gets blood to your brain, bringing glucose for energy and oxygen to soak up the toxic electrons that are left over. It also stimulates the protein that keeps neurons connecting.” It is so important to get outside and play to help stimulate the brain.

Sometimes people hesitate to have children play outside if they think the weather is bad, but as Sir Ranulph Fiennes wrote, “There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.” All types of weather encourage different play outside. My children played in snow pants, rain boots, swimming suits and any type of clothing that allowed them to be outside in all types of weather. “Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, and snow is exhilarating; there is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather,” writes the 19th century author John Ruskin.

So try the 30 minute rule at your house…maybe start with 15 minutes and check out the book, 15 Minutes Outside, by Rebecca Plants, for some suggestions of things to do outside with your child. However, if you make daily outdoor play a priority, your children will have their own ideas and soon they will be creating their own games, engaging in play with their friends and enjoying the benefits of playing outside.

Posted on 3/17/2014

Written by Mary Pat Pautler

Mary Pat is a preschool teacher, mother of three, and grandmother of one. She lives in St. Louis, MO, with her family.

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