Today's generation is hugely engaged in social media platforms and video games. Due to their massive mobile addiction, they have left behind the old-age amusement and thrill of "Nature Play."  Parents should encourage their kids to play outside and incorporate maximum interaction with the environment. You might wonder, "Why playing in the nature is so crucial for kids?" Refer to the pointers below to learn what advantages children get from playing in the greenery.

• Improved Agility: Kids who spend time in nature, playing and engaging in other vigorous activities have much better physical strength, balance, and agility. Playing in the environment allows children to explore their full potential of the body.

• Enhances Social Skills: Video games do not require social skills, but outdoor games do. Studies have found that children who play outdoors have better social skills, such as being more cooperative, kind, outspoken, and expressive.

• Better Cognitive Ability: In addition to physical strength, children who are nature-connected have better cognitive skills, such as visual-spatial and gross motor skills, and are able to communicate their ideas much more explicitly.

• Environment Belongingness: Spending time in nature through playful activities allows the kids to be more connected with Mother Nature and instills a sense of love and care for them. Scientific evidence also proves this behavior.

What is nature play for children?

Before you discuss the significance and benefits of nature play for children, it is crucial to know what "Nature Play" actually is. Most parents lack knowledge about this concept and think they need to be around their kids all the time, even during playtime. Basically, kid's environment play refers to a specific activity involving (i) Willingly chosen, child-led, and unformed actions and (ii)  Interaction with environmental components, like plants, water, rocks, etc. This type of play is generally not adult-guided.

Why is nature important in child development?

• Mental Well-being: Playing in the environment not only makes your kids physically active but also mentally resilient. Evidence shows that interaction with nature can satisfy spiritual, psychological, and emotional needs. So, walking barefoot on the grass, interacting with trees and plants, and microbial exposure induces better child growth.

• Higher Vitamin D: Most people suffer from Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency because they spend most of their time indoors and do not have any exposure to the Sun. Kids who play outdoors get a sufficient amount of exposure to the Sun, which allows their bodies to maintain sufficient levels of Vitamin D.

• Risk Management: Outdoor games involve healthy competition among kids and may compete with older people in their park or locality. This sense of collaboration and competitiveness allows the children to manage risk more efficiently. Scientific studies have shown that risk management is directly correlated with kids' well-being and involvement.

• Elevated Energy Levels: Kids have higher energy levels due to interaction with greenery and adequate exposure to sunlight. Also, it reduces their stress levels, which shows a direct and positive correlation to how energetic they will be. Moreover, children are able to focus much better due to more suitable physical and mental well-being.