Children belong playing outside. Everyone knows that, but how much is actually enough? According to the physical activity guidelines for children aged 6 to 17, the advice is to to exercise moderately to intensely for at least 1 hour every dayFor children under 6 years old, the rule is: move as much as possible during the day, preferably outdoors. The more, the better, as long as it is fun and age-appropriate.
Playing outdoors is the most natural way to get that exercise. Fresh air, space, challenge, and freedom ensure that children naturally move more than they do indoors. In this article, you will read why playing outdoors is so important, the current situation in the Netherlands, and what you can do to get children outside more often.
How many hours a day should children play outside?
Children would must play outside for at least 1 hour a day, preferably spread throughout the day. For younger children aged 0 to 6, the rule is that they should move as much as possible and sit still as little as possible. Playing outside counts fully as daily exercise and is one of the easiest ways to meet the exercise recommendation.
It is not just about children moving, but also about them doing so in a varied way. Running, climbing, cycling, jumping, and balancing are all forms of outdoor play that contribute to healthy development. More than an hour is always welcome. There is no maximum.
Why is playing outside so important for children?
Playing outdoors is important for children because it contributes to their physical, mental and social development at the same time. Outdoors, children learn their limits, develop motor skills, and build self-confidence. In addition, exposure to daylight has a positive effect on sleep, mood, and concentration.
Physical Benefits
Playing outdoors stimulates gross motor skills: jumping, climbing, and running help develop balance, strength, and coordination. Children who play outside regularly are, on average, fitter and have a healthier weight. Furthermore, exposure to the sun leads to the production of vitamin D, which is good for bones and the immune system.
Mental and social benefits
Playing outdoors gives children space to relax and blow off steam. Research shows that nature and outdoor spaces reduce stress and improve concentration. Playing together outdoors also helps children develop social skills: cooperating, negotiating, and dealing with winning and losing.
How much do children move on average per day in the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands, it obtains only a minority of children meet the daily physical activity standardData from the RIVM shows that many children get too little exercise and sit still too much, both at school and at home in front of screens. Older children and teenagers, in particular, get significantly less exercise than the recommended standard.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this problem. Children became accustomed to more screen time and fewer outdoor activities. Although there has been improvement since then, the physical activity deficit remains a point of concern for parents, schools, and municipalities. Good neighborhood outdoor play areas play a major role in how much children ultimately get physical activity.
What are the best outdoor activities for children of all ages?
The best outdoor activities are activities that challenging, freely accessible and fun are suitable for the age group. For toddlers, free play on a playground works best. Older children need more of a challenge, such as cycling, skateboarding, or playing sports on a multi-purpose field.
Below you will find an overview of suitable activities per age group:
- 0 to 4 years: playing freely in the sandbox, climbing on playground equipment, walking on grass
- 4 to 8 years: cycling, tag, jump rope, playing on a playground
- 8 to 12 years: skateboarding, BMXing, football, riding the pumptrack, climbing
- 12 years and older: running, mountain biking, street basketball, pumptracks and skate features
Create a inclusive play area such as a Bibian Mentel Playground It is ideal because it combines activities suitable for multiple age groups at the same time. Children aged 3 to 15 can play side by side, each at their own level.
How do you encourage children to play outside more?
Getting children to play outside more works best by to make the threshold as low as possibleThat means: a safe play area close to home, friends nearby, and activities that are challenging enough to forget about screens. Rules and coercion are counterproductive. Inspiration and a good environment work much better.
Practical tips to encourage outdoor play:
- Ensure there is an attractive playground within walking distance.
- Go outside yourself; children follow the example of adults.
- Consciously limit screen time, but replace it with something fun outside.
- Let children choose for themselves what they do; freedom makes outdoor play more appealing.
- Arrange to meet with other parents so that children can play together.
Municipalities and schools can also play a major role by investing in high-quality outdoor play areas. View our completed projects and see how inspiring outdoor spaces naturally draw children outside.
How Velosolutions helps children play outside more
At Velosolutions, we believe that a good outdoor play area makes all the difference. When children have a challenging, safe, and accessible place to play, they will naturally come outside. That is exactly what we build.
What we offer:
- Permanent asphalt pumptracks suitable for all ages, from toddlers on balance bikes to teenagers on BMX bikes.
- Inclusive playgrounds that are accessible to everyone, including children in wheelchairs
- Design, construction, and annual maintenance, so that the place is always in top condition
- Tracks that comply with Dutch WAS legislation and are supplied with a NEN-EN 14974 certificate
Read more about us and discover why Velosolutions has already built more than 500 pumptracks worldwide. Do you want to know what is possible in your municipality or neighborhood? Request a no-obligation consultation and we are happy to think along with you.
