You encourage outdoor play by giving children access to challenging, attractive play areas in the neighborhood. Think of varied play equipment, open spaces, and multi-purpose tracks where children can explore and move on their own. Practical tips also help: limit screen time to fixed times, go outside with them yourself, and ensure the environment feels safe and inviting. The more stimulation and freedom a child experiences outdoors, the greater the chance that they will want to go outside of their own accord.
Why is playing outside so important for children?
Playing outdoors is important for children because it contributes to their physical, social, and mental development. Exercising outside strengthens muscles and bones, improves motor skills, and helps children learn to assess risks. Furthermore, daylight ensures better sleep and a more positive mood.
Children who play outside regularly also develop stronger social skills. They learn to cooperate, negotiate, and deal with disappointment simply by playing with other children. Free play outdoors gives children the space to explore their own boundaries, something that happens much less in a structured indoor environment.
In addition, playing outdoors has a positive effect on concentration. Children who have played outside sufficiently during the day perform better at school and are less easily distracted. In short: playing outdoors is not only fun, it is good for a child's development in all areas.
How much time playing outside is enough for a child?
For children between the ages of 5 and 12, it is recommended to at least an hour a day to exercise outdoors. This does not have to be continuous. Two half-hour sessions, spread throughout the day, already have a noticeably positive effect on a child's health and well-being.
For toddlers and preschoolers, movement should be part of the day as much as possible. They naturally have a greater need for movement and should ideally spend a large portion of their waking hours actively outdoors. The younger the child, the more unstructured outdoor time contributes to their development.
Teenagers also benefit from daily outdoor exercise, although the pattern is different. For them, it works well to combine outdoor sports or activities with social moments, so that being outdoors also takes on a social appeal.
What are the best ways to get children outside?
The best way to get children outside is to make being outside more fun than being inside. That sounds simple, but it requires a conscious approach. Children are more likely to go outside if there is something to do, if there are friends around, and if the environment feels inviting.
Concrete ways to encourage outdoor play:
- Schedule regular outdoor moments in the daily routine, such as after school or after dinner.
- Go along yourself outside, especially with younger children. Your presence makes outdoor play more appealing.
- Limit screen time until fixed times, so that going outside becomes the logical alternative.
- Give children freedom to discover for yourself and not plan or control everything.
- Organize neighborhood activities so that children go outside together and motivate each other.
Parents and caregivers play a major role, but the environment also largely determines whether children go outside on their own. A neighborhood with good inclusive playgrounds for children of all ages makes the difference.
Which outdoor play facilities encourage physical activity the most?
Outdoor play facilities that offer a challenge and are suitable for multiple ages encourage physical activity the most. Examples include climbing frames, skate parks, multi-sport courts, and pump tracks. Facilities where children determine the pace and difficulty themselves attract the most users and keep children outdoors longer.
Variety is important in this regard. A playground with only a swing and a slide quickly attracts fewer children as they get older. Facilities that grow with the user, such as a pump track or a skate park, remain attractive to teenagers and adults as well.
Good outdoor play facilities are also accessible to children with disabilities. Wheelchair-friendly paths, safe surfaces, and a clear layout ensure that everyone can participate. View our completed projects for examples of what that looks like in practice.
How can a municipality promote outdoor play in the neighborhood?
A municipality can promote outdoor play in the neighborhood by investing in accessible, challenging, and well-maintained playgrounds close to home. The shorter the distance to a playground, the more often children use it. Accessibility is just as important as quality in this regard.
In addition to physical facilities, a municipality can also focus on:
- Closing streets to car traffic at fixed times, so that children can play safely outside.
- Involving residents in the design of playgrounds, so that the facility fits in with the neighborhood.
- Regular maintenance of existing playgrounds and courts, because a neglected play area attracts no children.
- Collaboration with schools and sports clubs to encourage outdoor activity outside school hours as well.
A municipality that is serious about outdoor play also looks at the long term. Facilities suitable for multiple generations and requiring little maintenance are a smarter investment than playground equipment that is worn out after a few years.
What is a pumptrack and why is it suitable for all ages?
A pumptrack is an enclosed asphalt track with hills and curves, where you move forward by shifting your weight instead of pedaling. This makes it accessible to everyone: from a toddler on a balance bike to a teenager on a BMX or an adult on a mountain bike. You don't need any technical skills to enjoy it.
Pumptracks are popular because they are challenging without being dangerous. Beginners can get acquainted with the track at a relaxed pace, while advanced riders can use the same track to practice speed and technique. That combination ensures that the track is never empty.
Moreover, pumptracks are not just for cyclists. Skaters, scooter riders, and even wheelchair users can use them. This makes it a truly multifunctional facility that serves the entire neighborhood and makes outdoor play appealing to everyone.
How Velosolutions helps encourage outdoor play
At Velosolutions, we design and build permanent asphalt pumptracks that meet the highest quality standards, including certification according to NEN-EN 14974. We offer the complete package: from initial design to annual inspection and maintenance. This ensures that the track is always in top condition and can be used safely.
What we can do for your municipality or organization:
- Custom design, tailored to the available space and the target group in the neighborhood.
- Multifunctional jobs which are suitable for all ages and are also wheelchair-friendly.
- Full guidance from permit process to completion.
- Annual maintenance to keep the pumptrack safe and attractive.
- More than 500 completed pumptracks worldwide, of which much in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Read more about us and discover how we have been working on movement-friendly neighborhoods for over 10 years. Do you want to know what we can do for your municipality? Request a no-obligation consultation and we are happy to think along with you.
