Playing outside is so important and as much as my daughter doesn’t do it as often as I did as a kid I always make time for us to go for a walk to the park, organise play dates at the park, go feed the ducks at the local pond. It’s so very important and something I am conscious of.

My grandson attends daycare four days a week. They are pretty good as they tend to let the kids just play with whatever they choose. But they also have organised activities when things to do are set out for them. So they’ve got it all covered

Nature and play time is so important.

I am one of those terrible mums as I will not allow my 6 year olds to have their own phones or devices. Their 4 year niece has her own tablet and is allowed to play on the TV with a game pad. My older children were ok without electronic devices, so I think the younger ones can too. My 16 year old has a phone for emergencies only as she has stated her life is too busy with work, school, social life and home life to play on it. Yes the younger ones do have access to a computer for their lessons but they prefer to do other things. My youngest daughter loves being outdoors with her older brother and father playing with engines or gardening. Her twin brother loves home duties so is growing the veggies he needs for cooking. He also plays outside with his older brothers but prefers not getting dirty ( a sensory thing) outside but loves making things in cooking or craft work.

This is true. It was hard in our case with a disabled child, who couldn’t walk, so I guess I was a bit more protective too.

I still have to kick my son outside to play, he has trouble trying to entertain himself. It has been since he was a toddler. I got him a little puppy when he was almost 2yrs old. ohh it was perfect, my son was able to go outside and play in the dirt without having to hold onto me all the time. turned out my son had separation anxiety. the puppy helped so much in a big way.
it is hard now days, with sensory issues, the loudness of the park or play centres. My son is now 12, I try taking him out camping by the river. devices detoxing!!!

Play is vital, not just for kids but adults as well. I can’t remember when kids suddenly stop going to the playground, I’m guessing it’s around high school. I lived opposite a park so even in yr 12 my friends and I would play on the swings and see-saw. Now when I take my own kids to the playground I still go on the swings and even race my other mum friends on the flying fox! I say play for all!!! I understand unstructured play doesn’t work for everyone. I myself have a little one who doesn’t like unstructured play much so only has short periods of it every day. But every little bit helps

Completely agree that playtime is becoming extinct unless its on technology.

Timely article its amazing to see kids that are in a play environment and they are still attached to their devices

These days kids are glued to their electronic devices. I’m thankful my children still love to go outside, to the park, for walks or play their sport. My High School aged daughter doesn’t even have a phone, the only kid in her class!!

My kids loved being outside, but their children not so much. There have always been dangers in the big bad world, but they weren’t dwelt upon so much and they didn’t go ‘viral’ on Facebook etc. but children learnt to be street wise because of being out there. I do feel sorry for the young these days as they can’t use their imagination any more.

I admit that my kids don’t have as much freedom as I had while I was in their age but again the society nowadays are so dangerous and different from the ones i had. I was so lucky that I got to roam freely to explore the nature while I was little.

It is very important for kids to be outside! They are immersed in so much technology that its vital that they are balancing this with nature!

A good article about the benefits and importance of play skills with children!

I am very lucky because my son would rather play outside than be indoors. It’s a struggle to get him inside some days!! He’s only 2 but he has a great imagination and loves nothing More than creating a little world with his construction vehicles in the dirt

I have recently gotten much more excited about gardening and wanting to spruce the place up, plant trees, shrubberies and flowers, and also fill the house with indoor plants. It will take a while but it’s something my kids and I can all help with. My youngest loves planting things. When I was a kid for a few years we lived a bit out of town with some land and my brother and I rarely wore shoes and were outside all the time.

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  • • mom93821 replied
    • 27 May 2019 , 8:16 am

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  A backyard and a garden is a wonderful place for all of the family.

Thanks for this article. My boys have a big backyard to play in which they love, but it made me think that I need to walk them to kinder more instead of driving. Which will be good for me as well.

Outside time and play time is a must for children and adults.
Being outside and getting fresh air and enjoying nature is a must too.
Why would anyone want to be inside all of the time.

so important for their development

Most of my children loved/love playing outside. Getting dirty and pretending what things are. My younger ones who are six are different. my daughter prefers her garden or mucking around with her dad and older brothers with machinery. Her twin brother is happier indoors playing with things inside. He loves cooking, cleaning his and his sister room. he will even hang out washing on his little clothes line. We go walking in the bush and along beaches.