Supporting Children's Well-Being Through Time Outdoors

Summer is upon us, bringing longer days, warmer temperatures, and more chances to enjoy time outdoors. Outdoor play can be a fun way for children to explore, learn, and stay active. It also supports emotional well-being for both children and caregivers.

Young children learn through their experiences. They learn by moving, touching, observing, listening, imagining, and asking questions. The outdoors provides many opportunities for these kinds of experiences. Whether children are running across a playground, drawing with sidewalk chalk, looking for interesting rocks, noticing the feeling of a cool breeze, or simply watching clouds move across the sky, they are building important skills while having fun.

Outdoor time can also help children and caregivers slow down and connect with one another. In a world filled with busy schedules, responsibilities, and technology, even a few minutes spent outside together can make a positive difference.

Why Outdoor Time Matters for Emotional Well-Being

When children spend time outdoors, they have opportunities to move their bodies, use their senses, and explore the world around them. Physical activity can help children release energy and support healthy growth and development. Time outside also encourages curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and confidence as children interact with new sights, sounds, and experiences.

Being outdoors also supports emotional well-being in quieter, more reflective ways. Nature naturally invites children to slow down and notice what is around them. Feeling the warmth of the sun on their skin, watching clouds move across the sky, listening to birds, noticing flowers, or feeling grass and other textures can help children stay present in the moment. These kinds of experiences can support focus, calm, and coping with big feelings.

Through outdoor time, children may also:

• Express themselves through play and imagination
• Practice handling challenges and small frustrations
• Build independence and confidence in new settings
• Develop social skills when playing with others
• Strengthen attention and self-control
• Experience joy through movement and discovery

Outdoor play also gives children opportunities to experience joy. Laughter, movement, imagination, and exploration can all support children’s development and strengthen their emotional well-being.

Caregivers benefit, too. Spending time outdoors can offer a break from daily stress and routines. It can create opportunities for meaningful conversations, shared experiences, and moments of connection. Even when life feels busy, a short walk, a few minutes at a playground, or reading together outside can help families feel more connected and grounded.

Every Child Is Different

When people think about outdoor play, they may often tend to picture children running, climbing, or playing sports. However, while some children may enjoy these activities, others prefer quieter or different experiences. There is no single "right" way to enjoy outdoor time.

Some children love being active and adventurous. Others enjoy observing nature, collecting leaves, drawing, taking pictures, or sitting in a favorite outdoor spot. Some children may be sensitive to heat, noise, bugs, or unfamiliar environments. Others may need extra time to feel comfortable exploring new places.

Following a child's interests can help make outdoor experiences more enjoyable and meaningful. The goal is not to force a particular activity but to create opportunities for exploration, connection, and enjoyment.

Similarly, caregivers have different interests, energy levels, and comfort levels when it comes to outdoor activities. Some families enjoy hiking or visiting parks. Others may prefer simple activities close to home. What matters most is finding options that fit your family's needs and circumstances.

Finding Balance with Technology

Technology is a part of daily life for many families. Screens can help us learn, communicate, work, and relax. They can also provide entertainment and educational opportunities for children.

At the same time, outdoor experiences offer benefits that screens cannot fully replace. Being outside encourages movement, creativity, sensory experiences, and face-to-face interaction. Children can notice the feeling of grass under their feet, listen to birds singing, feel the warmth of the sun, or watch insects move through the environment. These experiences help children engage and connect with the world around them.

Rather than viewing technology as "good" or "bad," it can be helpful to think about balance. Families may choose to set aside some screen-free time outdoors while also finding ways to use technology intentionally.

For example, children and caregivers can use a phone or camera to take pictures during a nature walk, identify plants or animals they discover, or document outdoor adventures together. Technology can support exploration when used thoughtfully.

Making Outdoor Time Work for Your Family

Families spend time outdoors in many different ways, depending on what is available, familiar, and comfortable for them. Access to parks, green spaces, or safe walking areas can vary, and daily routines, transportation, weather, and community-related factors can all shape how and where outdoor time happens.

Because of this, there is no single “right” way to spend time outside. What matters most is finding moments and places that fit your family’s needs, routines, and comfort level.

Outdoor experiences do not have to take place in large parks or natural areas to be meaningful. They can happen in many everyday spaces, such as:

• A front porch or balcony
• A backyard or shared outdoor space
• A sidewalk or neighborhood walkway
• A local playground
• A community center or shared public space
• A school playground after hours or community park
• Any outdoor space that feels familiar and manageable for your family

Even short or simple moments outside can matter. What is most important is that families are able to spend time in ways that feel realistic, safe, and supportive for them.

Simple, Low-Cost Ways to Enjoy Time Outdoors

Outdoor time does not need to be expensive or highly planned. Many enjoyable activities require little or no equipment or materials.

Mindful Nature Walk

Take a slow walk together and encourage your child to notice what is happening around them using all of their senses.

You might ask questions such as:

• What colors do you see?
• What shapes, patterns, or interesting objects do you notice?
• What sounds do you hear?
• What do you feel on your skin, such as sunshine, a breeze, or cool shade?
• What textures can you safely touch, such as grass, tree bark, leaves, or rocks?
• Do you notice any smells around you?

For younger children, you can turn this into a game by seeing who can find something yellow, something soft, something rough, or something that moves.

Mindful walks are not about reaching a destination or getting exercise as quickly as possible. Instead, they encourage children and caregivers to slow down, focus on the present moment, and appreciate what is around them. Practicing mindfulness in simple, everyday ways can help support attention, curiosity, and a sense of calm while creating opportunities for conversation and connection.

Mindful Photography

Use a camera, phone, or tablet/iPad to take pictures of interesting things you notice together.

You might look for:

• Something colorful
• Something tiny
• Something that moves
• Something beautiful
• Something that makes you smile

Afterward, take a few minutes to look at the photos together and talk about why each person chose what they captured. This activity encourages children and caregivers to slow down, pay attention, and notice details in their surroundings that might otherwise be missed.

Sidewalk Chalk Fun

Draw pictures, create obstacle courses, play hopscotch, or make a giant mural together on the sidewalk or driveway. Children can design games for each other, trace shapes, or create paths to follow by jumping, skipping, or walking.

Children can also draw their feelings, favorite memories, or imaginary worlds. Caregivers can join in too by adding to drawings or creating their own.

Creative chalk activities can help children express themselves while building confidence, imagination, and connection with others.

Nature Art

Collect leaves, sticks, flowers, or rocks and use them to create art.

Try leaf rubbings, nature collages, or simple arrangements using natural materials. For leaf rubbings, place a leaf under paper and rub over it with a crayon to reveal its shape and texture. For collages, arrange leaves, petals, or small sticks on paper and use glue or tape to hold them in place.

Children can also draw plants, animals, or outdoor scenes they see nearby, or bring a notebook outside to sketch whatever catches their attention. The goal is not to make something “perfect,” but to notice and express what they see.

Nature art encourages children to slow down, observe their surroundings, and get creative while spending time outdoors together.

Read Outside

Bring a book outdoors and read together in a space that feels comfortable, such as a porch, blanket on the grass, steps, or a shaded spot under a tree.

Reading outside can make a familiar activity feel new and engaging. It offers a calm moment to slow down together while supporting connection, language development, and imagination.

Snack Time Outdoors

Sometimes the simplest activities are the most meaningful. Eating a snack outside can become a special family routine and an opportunity for conversation. Encourage children to notice what they see, hear, or feel while they enjoy their snack.

Bring Favorite Activities Outside

Many indoor activities can easily move outdoors, such as:

• Coloring or drawing
• Pretend play
• Building with blocks or LEGOs
• Playing with toy cars, dolls, action figures, or stuffed animals
• Doing puzzles
• Listening to music or dancing

A change of setting can make familiar activities feel new.

Remember: Small Moments Matter

It is easy to feel pressure to create exciting summer experiences or keep children entertained all the time. However, children often benefit most from simple moments of connection–a walk around the block…drawing with chalk…reading a book under a tree…taking pictures of interesting things on a nature walk…sharing a snack outside.

These everyday moments help children feel connected and cared for while also supporting their ability to slow down and stay present. They also create space for caregivers to pause, notice, and enjoy time together without pressure or expectations.

This summer, consider looking for small ways to spend time outdoors as a family. Whether it is five minutes or an entire afternoon, outdoor experiences can support emotional well-being, encourage connection, and create meaningful memories for both children and caregivers.

Here’s a brief, natural-sounding section you can add right before the activity cards or as a bridge into them:

Resource: Outdoor Activity Cards

To help support easy, low-pressure moments of connection, curiosity, and time outdoors with your child, here are Outdoor Activity Cards that you can download, print, and cut out. Each card offers a simple activity idea for spending time outside together.

You can keep the cards in a bag, post them on the fridge, or bring a few with you when you go outside. Let your child pick a card, or choose one together based on how much time you have that day.