Parents play a major role in encouraging outdoor play. Children watch what their parents do and say, and if you make outdoor play normal and fun, children will naturally follow suit. This starts with small things: scheduling regular time outside, going outside with them yourself, and ensuring there is a nice place to play. In this article, you will read exactly what you can do as a parent to get your child to play outside more.
Why is playing outside so important for children?
Playing outdoors is important for the physical and mental development of children. Exercising outside strengthens muscles and bones, improves motor skills, and helps children sleep better. In addition, playing outdoors leads to less stress, more concentration, and a better mood. It is simply one of the best things a child can do.
Playing outdoors goes beyond just physical activity. Outside, children learn to cooperate, solve problems, and manage risks. They discover the world at their own pace, without a screen or adult guidance. This kind of free space is good for their self-confidence and creativity. Children who play outside regularly also develop a stronger connection with their environment and nature.
How much time do children need to play outside per day?
Ideally, children need at least an hour of outdoor play per day. For younger children between the ages of two and six, even more is recommended, as physical activity during this phase strongly supports motor development. It doesn't have to be in one continuous block: multiple short moments outside count as well.
In practice, many children do not make it to this hour. Schoolwork, screens, and busy schedules eat away at outdoor time. As a parent, you can actively steer this. Schedule outdoor time just like you schedule a sports training session or an appointment: simply fit it into the day. That sounds strict, but it works. Children who know structure around playing outside will naturally start looking forward to it.
What can parents do to encourage outdoor play?
Parents encourage outdoor play most effectively by leading by example and making outdoor time a natural part of the day. No major interventions are needed: small habits already have a significant impact.
Here are concrete things you can do:
- Go outside by yourself, even if it is only for ten minutes. Children follow the behavior of their parents.
- Make outdoor play the standard After school, not the exception. First outside, then screens.
- Limit screen time until fixed times, so that space is created for outdoor activities.
- Give children freedom to discover for yourself. Not everything needs to be organized or guided.
- Make it socialArrange with other parents for the children to play outside together.
It is not about you as a parent always being present. It is precisely letting go and allowing children to play on their own that is valuable. But you make the circumstances possible.
Which outdoor play activities are suitable for all ages?
Outdoor play activities suitable for all ages are activities where everyone can participate at their own level. Think of cycling, skateboarding, running, ball games, and playing on a inclusive playground which is designed for young and old.
A pumptrack is a good example of an activity that appeals to everyone. A toddler on a balance bike, a teenager on a BMX, and an adult on a mountain bike can use it at the same time, each in their own way. This makes it an activity that brings the whole family together without anyone feeling left out.
Other activities that work well for different ages:
- Cycling and scooting in the neighborhood
- Hide-and-seek and tag for younger children
- Frisbee, football, or badminton for older children and teenagers
- Go for a walk together or take a stroll
How do you convince children to play outside more often?
You convince children to play outside more often by making it fun and challenging, not by forcing them. Coercion is counterproductive. What does work: letting children choose what they do outside themselves, inviting friends over, and discovering new places.
Children are naturally curious. If you take them to a new playground, a skatepark, or a pumptrack, the barrier to going is already much lower. Variety keeps things interesting. Don't go to the same playground every day, but explore the neighborhood. Also, let children participate in the decision-making process: “Shall we go to that new track today?” works better than “You have to go outside now.”
Additionally, it helps not to use screen time as a reward for playing outside. That links the two in a way that backfires. Just make playing outside normal, without attaching a major reward or punishment to it.
What role does the municipality play in facilitating outdoor play?
Municipalities play an important role in outdoor play by ensuring safe, accessible, and challenging outdoor play areas in the neighborhood. The more good play areas there are, the easier it is for parents to let children play outside.
A municipality that invests in varied outdoor play areas, such as playgrounds, skate parks, and pumptracks, makes outdoor play accessible to all children. Not every family has a large garden. For many children, public space is the only place to truly play outside. This calls for places that are challenging, safe, and suitable for different ages. View our completed projects for inspiration about what is possible in a municipality.
Parents can also influence municipal policy themselves. Report to the municipality if a playground is outdated, talk to other parents, and ask for better facilities together. Municipalities listen to residents more often than you think.
How Velosolutions helps promote more outdoor play in your municipality
At Velosolutions, we believe that a good outdoor play area makes all the difference: a place where children are challenged, where parents enjoy visiting, and which benefits the entire neighborhood. That is exactly what we achieve with our permanent asphalt pumptracks and multifunctional play areas.
This is what we offer:
- Custom design: every pumptrack is tailored to the location, the target group, and the wishes of the municipality
- Suitable for all ages: from toddlers on balance bikes to adults on mountain bikes
- Wheelchair accessible and inclusive: everyone can participate
- Safe and certifiedOur tracks comply with Dutch WAS legislation and are supplied with a NEN-EN 14974 certificate.
- Total package: from design and construction to annual maintenance and inspection
Read more about us and discover how we have already realized more than 500 pumptracks worldwide. Do you want to know what is possible in your municipality? Request a no-obligation consultation and we are happy to think along with you.
