A growing body of global research confirms that active outdoor play is one of the most effective ways to support children's physical fitness, mental well-being, and overall development, yet many kids today are not getting enough of it.
Children Are Spending Less Time Outside
A nationally representative poll conducted in August 2025 by the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital found that one in 10 parents of toddlers and preschoolers said their child plays outside only once a week or less.
Meanwhile, three in five parents reported that their child watches TV or videos every day, and nearly a third said their child regularly engages in media play such as video games.
According to the National Environmental Education Foundation, children ages 8 to 18 now average about four hours of screen time per day outside of schoolwork, a 52% increase from pre-pandemic levels. Only about one in five children gets the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
Latest Research Highlights Wide-Ranging Health Benefits
In September 2025, Outdoor Play Canada released an updated Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play, published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. The statement was informed by 18 literature reviews and input from more than 200 global experts across all inhabited continents.
The research found that active outdoor play is tied to higher levels of physical activity, less sedentary behavior, reduced screen time, and better sleep in children. Outdoor environments provide varied stimuli that encourage running, climbing, biking, and exploring, all of which support cardiovascular fitness and motor skill development.
An umbrella review cited in the position statement, which synthesized findings from six systematic reviews covering 381 published articles, reported favorable links between outdoor play and physical, mental, social, and spiritual health outcomes.
Mental Health and Cognitive Gains
The mental health benefits of outdoor play are especially significant as rates of childhood anxiety continue to rise.
According to the 2025 position statement, outdoor play was positively associated with executive functioning, emotional regulation, and stress relief in children. It also found that active outdoor play can mediate the negative effects of screen time on neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Research from North Carolina State University's Center for Family and Community Engagement found that children who engage in outdoor activities show improved attention spans and enhanced performance in subjects like science and mathematics.
The unstructured nature of outdoor play encourages creativity and flexible thinking, as children invent games, solve problems, and navigate their surroundings.
The Kids Mental Health Foundation notes that outdoor time helps reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in children, improves focus, and builds emotional resilience.
Risky Play Builds Resilience
One finding that may surprise some parents is the importance of risky play. The 2025 position statement found that activities like climbing, rough-and-tumble play, and exploring unfamiliar terrain help children develop confidence, risk perception, and problem-solving skills.
The researchers also warned that overly safe and heavily supervised play environments may actually contribute to increased anxiety in young people.
The Mott Children's Hospital poll supports this concern. It found that 40% of parents feel nervous when their child goes "too far" or climbs "too high," and nearly half hold their child's hand or stand right next to them during new physical challenges.
What Parents and Communities Can Do
Experts recommend several practical steps to increase outdoor play. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises limiting screen time to no more than one hour per day for children ages 2 to 5. Parents can also create safe but challenging play spaces, encourage nature-based activities like gardening or wildlife observation, and set aside screen-free times each day.
The 2025 position statement also calls on urban planners, educators, and policymakers to embed outdoor play into school curricula, community design, and public health strategies. The message from researchers is clear: getting children outside to play is not just a nice idea but a public health priority, as per the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.
