Outdoor play is much more than a break from screen time. It’s a way for children to develop and cultivate lifelong skills. These range from physical abilities to social skills, communication, and emotional behaviors.
While structured play, such as organizing a game of hide and seek, tug of war, or capture the flag, can be entertaining, unstructured outdoor play can be even more beneficial for cultivating emotional intelligence in children.
Here are four emotional development traits that children can develop during unstructured outdoor play.
1. Independence
One skill that every child learns differently and on their own time is independence. While some are inherently adventurous and daring, others tend to cling more to their parents and caregivers.
For those in the latter group, nurturing growth through independence can be challenging. While parents want to protect their children, they also want them to learn how to act and live on their own without their guidance and protection.
Outdoor free play provides children with the opportunity to create their own rules and establish their own ecosystems through imaginative play. It’s a chance for them to experiment and overcome obstacles on their own.
This can look like attempting to cross a challenging rope course on the school playground equipment or taking a turn on a particularly high slide.
When interacting with other peers, they learn how to fend for themselves and communicate their wishes and needs. If they would like to ride a multi-person spinner, they need to know before hopping on.
2. Self-Confidence
Related to independence is self-confidence, which involves trusting one’s unique abilities in various scenarios. Successfully navigating to the other side of the rope course will give children a sense of pride and a feeling of accomplishment.
This newfound awareness of their capabilities will assist them in future challenges. The next time, for example, they want to go across or climb on the ropes, they’ll feel better about their ability level.
Self-confidence is a critical skill that many children struggle with, especially in today’s social media-driven landscape.
More and more children are comparing themselves and their skill sets to others by watching Instagram and TikTok videos. As a result, they may not feel like they have what’s necessary to face difficulties and may instead focus on what they’re unable to do, rather than what they can do.
However, every time they face a challenge during outdoor play and overcome it, they will build their resilience and, in turn, boost their self-confidence.
3. Empathy
It’s a given that children don’t always want to share. No matter their age, children want what they want, and they often want it now!
Yet, playing with others during unstructured play will present them with situations in which they must wait their turn.
This is just one way in which empathy is developed and strengthened. As children recognize that everyone deserves a turn on the slide or that everyone should have a role in the pretend game, they learn the importance of cooperating.
Empathy is essential for building and strengthening friendships both on and off the playground. If a child isn’t able to share nicely, others will notice and may not want to play with them again.
On the other hand, a child who lets others take a turn or invites a solo friend into the game they’ve imagined will be seen as kind and empathetic. Children who develop this life skill at an early age will benefit from forming long-lasting relationships, which is important in both personal and professional settings.
4. Resilience
Unstructured outdoor play comes with some risks. Although minimal, children have to use their best judgment when jumping across a water stream or walking down an uneven natural path.
While adult supervision may be nearby, children will grow more if they aren’t babysat and come to face their own decisions naturally. That said, some bumps and falls are inevitable, but it’s these mishaps that can help develop their sense of resilience.
Resilience is all about adapting to difficult situations and facing adversity with minimal strain or stress. It’s usually referred to as someone who has the mental and emotional strength to adapt to setbacks.
Like most others, this skill must be learned over time. A child doesn’t wake up one day being resilient if they haven’t faced an obstacle head-on. Yet, a child who bounces back after a small fall or pivots when their favorite piece of playground equipment is occupied is developing resilience.
Takeaways
Unstructured outdoor play improves emotional intelligence through physical activity and movement. Children won’t realize that they are building these traits outright; however, parents, caregivers, and guardians will likely recognize these inherent skills develop as the child becomes more secure in their feelings and abilities.
Parents should recognize and applaud their children for these newfound traits by praising them appropriately. This can look like giving them a high five after they’ve successfully crossed the rope bridge, reassuring and boosting their confidence levels.
It can also be talking with their child about how they liked seeing them share the swing with the other child during recess, and reiterating the importance of taking turns.
With each play period, children will develop core emotional intelligence traits that will serve them as they mature into their teen and adult years.
