7 Fun Ways to Encourage Outdoor Play

As a parent, many of us wish that our kids would get off the computer or stop watching TV and go play outside. But many of us are so busy that we forget to encourage outdoor play in ways other than yelling, “Go play outside.” However, playing outside is important. Kids need to get that active exercise, breath fresh air, and develop interest in the world around them. You can encourage outdoor play and physical development by providing kids with activities and by playing with them. Here are seven ways to encourage outdoor play with a combination of sensory opportunities and hands-on experiences that excite kids to try outdoor play either as a group or independently. I also included a list of outdoor play examples at the end of the post for a little further inspiration.

How to Encourage Outdoor Play

Engaging in outdoor activity, whether climbing a playset, zooming down slides, or going on scavenger hunts, helps improve coordination and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by promoting movement. Activities like making mud pies encourage creativity, while unstructured play strengthens decision-making skills. Outdoor play also fosters social connections, as children of any age group interact and learn cooperation. For parents, watching their children explore from the comfort of outdoor dining chairs provides peace of mind, knowing they are developing essential skills while having fun. These are just a few of the main reasons outdoor play should be a priority for every child, every day.

Creating natural magic

Back home, parents may struggle to find such novel attractions, and that’s part of the challenge in getting children outside to play. The virtual reality of video games may seem much more interesting than the reality of their own backyards. To make matters worse, some kids are confined to their backyards because of concerns for their safety in roaming too far from home.

Without an opportunity wander and dream, the children’s imaginations can be stifled. Imagination is often the foundation of play, but it can suffer as a result of attention spans shortened by hyperactively designed video games. When parents ask kids to go outside to play, kids may see it as forced boredom, compared to a known source of entertainment such as the TV or gaming device. There are ways to overcome the boredom factor. It all starts with activities to create a focus for play.  Providing sports equipment and an outdoor play area for kids , such as an outdoor play house, garden, or patio, can help encourage outdoor play.

Showing kids the magic of the natural environment helps them develop curiosity, wonder, and a deep connection with the world around them. From watching a butterfly emerge from its chrysalis to listening to the soothing sounds of rustling leaves, nature offers endless moments of discovery. Encouraging children to explore the outdoors—digging in the soil, observing wildlife, or gazing at the stars—sparks their imagination and nurtures a sense of appreciation for the beauty and mysteries of the Earth.

Outdoor play equipment can encourage a natural desire to play

Fostering the urge to play begins with environments that don’t hem kids in. Sometimes giving kids a little focus can work wonders to make the world seem like a bigger place and the backyard a little less confining.

There are many types of outdoor play equipment, ranging from simple structures to elaborate play systems. Popular outdoor play sets often include: swings, slides, jungle gyms, climbing walls, rope climbers, and cargo nets.

You don’t have to have a fancy play structure. Even a roughly constructed sandbox can serve as a wonderful focus for playtime during a child’s early years up to age 6 or 8. Depending on the maturity of the child, you can add a little water to a sandbox or let them have a hose to repeatedly fill up the holes they dig. You’ll find the kids crawling around the sandbox for hours, often inventing worlds that have nothing to do with the backyard.

Get your child a bike. Then ride or walk together.

The bicycle is the ultimate tool for outside play and fun. Even if you walk with your small child on their tricycle around the block, you’re both learning about the value of play and exercise.

Get a dog

While cats are nice around the house, they don’t exactly encourage exercise. But walking the dog and taking it to a park or forest preserve is one of the simplest ways to get your child outside and engaged in the world.  You might want to read these tips for getting a new dog if you decide you are interested in adopting a dog.

An outdoor play house can create a sense of ownership

A classic treehouse, backyard slide, or fort on your property is still a great way to encourage kids to get outside for exercise. These types of spaces give kids a sense of ownership of their own space. If you can’t make a tree house, get the kids excited about an outdoor play house, or put up a swing set on your property. My kids built the one above all by themselves with a tarp and some rope. They were so proud and so was I! Most importantly, be willing to occasionally join your children at their outdoor play house. Kids love parents who get involved. But also remember to let them interact with other kids and stand back even if they’re having social challenges. Part of play is learning how to socialize.

Cook up some fun in an outdoor play kitchen

An outdoor play kitchen is a fantastic way to encourage imaginative and sensory play while connecting kids with nature. With simple materials like wooden counters, old pots and pans, and natural elements like mud, water, and leaves, children can create their own “recipes” and explore textures, scents, and creativity. This type of play fosters problem-solving skills, social interaction, and fine motor development while allowing kids to engage in open-ended, hands-on fun. Whether making mud pies or mixing pretend soups with flowers and pebbles, an outdoor play kitchen transforms the backyard into a space for endless exploration and learning.

Find a lake, river, pond or stream

Kids love to play near water. With age-appropriate supervision, your child can wander about and get exercise with friends near a body of water at a local park. They often enjoy building boats or seeing what floats or spotting fish and turtles. My kids love to catch tadpoles (top photo).

Examples of outdoor play

• Hopscotch
• Jump Rope
• Hula Hoop
• Pretend Play
• Building Forts
• Sandbox Play
• Water Table Play
• Messy Crafts
• Scooters
• Bouncy Toys
• Rollerblading
• Ride-on Toys
• Sidewalk Chalk
• Swing Set Play
• Slip N Slide
• Bug Hunting
• Butterfly Catching
• Bird Watching
• Trampoline Jumping
• Swings
• Pedal go-karts
• Basketball hoop

Conclusion

outdoor play is essential for children’s overall development, offering physical, cognitive, social, and emotional benefits. It encourages physical activity, improves motor skills, and strengthens immunity while fostering creativity, problem-solving skills, and social interactions. Engaging with nature also reduces stress and enhances mental well-being. By providing children with opportunities to explore and play outdoors, we support their growth into healthier, more confident, and resilient individuals. Prioritizing outdoor play ensures they develop a lifelong appreciation for nature, physical activity, and meaningful social connections.

Encouraging outdoor play is an issue all modern parents seem to contend with, whether they live in lower Manhattan or a ranch in Wyoming. Mostly encouraging outdoor play is about being creative enough to try different ideas until something seems to stick with your children. Even if they’re resistant to playing outside, your kids will thank you one day. So whether it is buying outdoor playground equipment or just engaging with young children in an open outdoor space, there are countless ways to get them started on outdoor adventures in the natural world.

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