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There is a crisis happening among adults and children of all ages these days: nature deficit disorder. Kids are spending far more time indoors than outdoors, and it shows physically, mentally, and emotionally as they grow into adulthood.
Of all the good things a parent can give their child, the most effective for developmental growth is unstructured time outside (source). Spending hours outside makes kids happier, more focused, and less anxious than kids sitting inside (source).
The problem? Most kids and adults spend just a few minutes outside each day when they should be spending hours. Let's explore exactly why time outside is necessary, specifically how it benefits our children, and some common questions parents have about babies and toddlers outside.
Why Do Little Ones Need to Go Outside?
Keeping little ones inside is so much easier than taking them outside because you can control the environment, keep things clean, and do some chores. However, the human body needs sunshine, free movement, and fresh air outside.
The outdoors is a marvelous sensory experience for babies and toddlers (older kids and adults, too!). Nature is not overwhelming but calming. The trick is finding a slice of the outdoors you can take your little ones to nearby.
Urban sprawl is quickly destroying farmland, forests, and nature, but some modern planning leaves space for large parks, beautiful landscaping, and respects the boundaries of national parks. Get your little ones outside whenever you can, even on a balcony full of potted plants!
Let's take a look at more specific reasons to go to the trouble of spending time outdoors:
Sunshine
Though too much sun exposure can cause sunburns or skin cancer, the human body needs sunlight to produce vitamin D. Sure, you can take artificial vitamin D or sit under a special light indoors, but these are not as effective as actually soaking up some sunshine outside.
Sunlight also helps humans sleep better and be more calm and focused during the day. For example, sunlight helps the body release more serotonin, a lovely hormone that boosts mood and helps with focus. As daylight fades in the evening, the brain releases melatonin, a hormone that helps one fall asleep (source).
So, if your little ones struggle with sleep or focus, you should try spending more time outside with them!
Exercise
Getting outside means moving, and moving means exercise. Little ones need time to run amuck outside because it's essential to healthy physical development, resetting their mood, and exploration.
Think about it: playing inside can be active, but there are many rules about where to run, how far they can go, and things to run into. But outside, the rules are far fewer and more related to avoiding dangers, staying in sight, and not eating random bugs or plants.
Little kids are not good at sitting still and doing nothing. So, even if your little one kicks and screams about going outside, he will eventually come up with something to do and move.
Stimulation
Indoors, stimulation is far more narrow due to limited types of stimulation. But outside, your little one will activate more senses to take in all there is to see, touch, smell, hear, and taste (hopefully not bugs or dirt).
The more time a child spends inside, the more narrow her senses will be (source). Exploring the outdoors gives a far richer sensory experience than anything we can create indoors.
Creativity and Imagination
Time outdoors benefits your child's brain massively. When given completely unstructured time outdoors and no planned activity, little ones explore, discover, plan, problem-solve, imagine, and create (source).
In other words, kids left to their own devices outdoors will entertain and educate themselves!
Ideally, your child will get unstructured time outdoors to play alone (with you nearby), with you, and with other kids. Having regular time outdoors in various settings and people will further encourage creativity, communication, and confidence.
Responsibility
Speaking of confidence, spending time outside caring for plants or animals boosts a child's sense of responsibility. Young children want to be little helpers, making the best time in life to nurture a sense of responsibility.
Whether you let your little one pick out and plant some seeds for your flower pots, plant a vegetable garden, have a pet, or get a few chickens, involve your toddler in caring for these living things.
Our world is quickly changing, so fostering a sense of responsibility for living things in your child from a young age will help make broader environmental impacts easier to understand later.
Taking Risks
Parents dread children taking risks because they want to keep their kids safe. However, taking risks is crucial for knowing one's limits, figuring out what is possible, and pushing growth.
For toddlers, taking risks outside may mean jumping off things, running wildly, and attempting to jump over stuff. Babies take risks by exploring and discovering new things. Obviously, you need to supervise little ones as they take risks. But eventually, your not-so-little ones will take much more significant risks.
Reducing Stress and Fatigue
Attention Restoration Theory asserts that urban environments drain our energy because we must work at avoiding distractions to focus on what we want to pay attention to, while natural environments engage our senses "softly" so that we can pay attention to something without much effort (source).
In plain English, natural environments help us pay attention nearly effortlessly, which gives us pleasure instead of fatigue. But urban environments fatigue us because we must constantly strive to focus on something.
Whether you agree with this or not for yourself, you can consider it for your child. Little ones are not hardened to overstimulation like adults. They haven't learned to prioritize one thing over another. So, being outdoors in a quiet place can be calming and stress-free.
Appreciating Nature
As children spend time outside, they typically grow to love it. The things they can sense outdoors usually stand in stark contrast to what they sense indoors.
A childhood spent wandering through the woods, spying animals and birds, digging in the dirt, climbing trees, splashing in creeks, and stargazing is a childhood well spent, and it often results in environmentally conscious adults.
Moreover, instilling an appreciation for nature in your little one will pay dividends later because loving the outdoors means spending more time outdoors willingly and taking steps to protect it.
How Much Time Do Little Ones Need to Spend Outside?
Kids of any age should spend at least three hours of free play outdoors daily (four to six is better), but the average kid only spends four to seven minutes outside these days (source). That means most kids are not even getting three hours outside per week!
Time outside is integral to a child's healthy development, and it's also essential for our well-being as parents!
If your first thought is, "What in the world am I supposed to do outside with a toddler for three hours a day?" you are not alone. We discuss this in Making Memories with Your Baby or Toddler: Outdoor Playtime Ideas, so check that out if you need ideas for little ones!
What Happens When a Little One Doesn't Get Outside Enough?
Life and weather don't always play nice, so what happens when a young child doesn't get outside enough? For one, there will be a much narrower sensory experience to enjoy, which could lead to boredom, whininess, or needing you more often for entertainment.
Another problem could be a lack of sleep or an irregular sleep schedule. If your little one doesn't run around enough, he will understandably struggle to sleep well. Sunlight and fresh air impact mood heavily, so you may see increased instances of moodiness, big feelings, or tantrums.
Studies have shown that playing outside reduces depression, anxiety, stress, lack of self-esteem, ability to identify risk, obesity, Type II diabetes, and creativity (source).
All of these are major issues in America nowadays, and their rise coincides with the amount of time we spend indoors compared to previous generations, among other things.
If all we have to do to help our children avoid these struggles is provide plenty of time outdoors, shouldn't we strive to do so?
Keeping Little Ones Comfortable
Hurdles to going outside and staying there for long periods exist, and most of them involve safety and comfort. Thanks to modern technology and research, we are able to mitigate many issues, but weather, temperature, and allergies persist.
You can prepare your child for allergies by making a plan with your pediatrician. Planning for weather and temperature may mean spending a little more time outside during more comfortable seasons and less time during others, depending on where you live.
How Hot Is Too Hot for Babies and Toddlers to Play Outside?
Most toddlers and babies can play outside well up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit or 84 degrees at 70% humidity (source). Your little one may be more or less tolerant to heat depending on how cool you keep your home, how much time they spend outside, and shade or a breeze.
My littles spend a lot of time playing in water above 85 degrees Fahrenheit because our area is humid all summer. Otherwise, they play outside in the mornings before 11 a.m. and after 6 p.m. If we are outside during the hot part of the day, we spend it in the shade or water.
How Cold Is Too Cold for Babies and Toddlers to Play Outside?
"Too cold" seems far more relative to a person's location than "too hot." Those living in the far north say 5 degrees Fahrenheit is too cold, while those living further south may say 20 degrees Fahrenheit is too cold.
"Too cold" is also impacted by wind, humidity, and sunshine, so use common sense and dress your child well.
My kids have to wear many layers, but they still only spend an hour or two outside on sunny days in the winter months. Then, they sit in their favorite indoor sunny spot to read books and play for another hour or so.
Can My Toddler and Baby Play in the Rain?
Yes! As long as it isn't cold or lightning outside, you can let your toddler and baby play in the rain (source). Avoid setting your baby in mud or puddles because she will likely put her hands in her mouth, but holding your baby in the rain is just fine.
Playing in the rain is an excellent sensory experience besides just being fun! When finished, bring your kids inside and get them clean, dry, and warm as soon as possible.
Alas, there will inevitably be days when it's too hot, cold, or stormy to play outside. Days like this are excellent for whipping out sensory toys and activities. Worried that sensory toys are not going to work for your toddler? Check out Are Toddlers Too Old for Sensory Toys?
Things to Watch Out For When Your Toddler and Baby Play Outside
Though playing outside is essential to healthy growth and development, parents have a few things to watch out for. As your children grow, they will learn to watch out for these things, but they have no idea early on.
Go outside with your young children to keep an eye on them and watch out for the following:
Playing alone and out of sight near strangers
Siblings hitting or snatching from one another
Putting things in the mouth
Ants, centipedes, spiders, snakes, and other potentially harmful critters
Dead tree branches overhead
Reaching hands into random holes
Getting close to a body of water
Climbing high
Climbing a wood pile
Throwing rocks
Climbing trees
Petting unknown animals
Kids are creative and like to get into trouble. So, though this list is far from comprehensive, it gives you a sampling of what your little ones may attempt at some point. It's all a part of growing up!
If you have a baby and a toddler to keep up with, read Tips and Tricks for Parenting a Baby and Toddler Sustainably for some tips from someone who has been there a few times.
In a Nutshell
Getting outside daily is a real challenge these days, but it is a must for your child's healthy growth and development (and for you). By committing to get outside daily, you will help yourself and your child avoid common physical, mental, and emotional struggles. So, what are you going to do outside today?
