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Practical research
ThE intellectual and physical benefits of playing
outdoor

Made by:
Leverio T. Diciembre Jr
Angela pristine abejar
Zoren Richard rayo
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What is the different physical and mental benefits can we get from playing outside?

INTRODUCTION
Engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical
purpose. Outdoor Done situated, or used out of doors. “a huge outdoor concert”

Playing outdoors has a history. Until fairly recently, children playing outdoors was
widespread. Yet back in the 1880’s, as America’s cities become more densely populated,
children’s options for free play outdoors became more limited. At the same time, people began
realizingg that young children needed the benefits of outdoor play, and America’s first
playgrounds were created.

In 1885 while traveling in Germany, an American woman noticed children playing in

large sand-piles that had been constructed in public parks, and which were supervised by
police. These were the result of the German Kindergarten movement,that had spawned
sandboxes in homes and schools as vehicles for free play outdoors. She mentioned the sand
piles in a letter sent to a friend in Boston

In 1886, Boston introduced what was then called “sand gardens.” Placed largely in
poor neighborhoods, these sandboxes featured digging toys and wooden building blocks.
Sand gardens proved extremely popular and were widely replicated. Over time, sand gardens
became the inspiration for larger outdoor recreation spaces catering to people of all ages. 

The Playground Association of America, formed in 1906 began concerning itself with
all forms of outdoor recreation, and itself soon became the Playground and Recreation
Association of America. As the movement grew, the “free play” of the sand gardens gave
way to activities directed by adults. Around the turn of the century, play equipment became
staples of the playground

Relationships with peers and adults affect how children think, learn, and develop.
Families, schools, and peer groups all make up an important part of the social context. 

The culture a child lives in contributes a set of values, customs, shared assumptions, and
ways of living that influence development throughout the lifespan. Culture may play a role in
how children relate to their parents, the type of education they receive, and the type of childcare
that is provided.

The Socioeconomic Context: Social class can also play a major role in child
development. Socioeconomic status (often abbreviated as SES), as based upon several different
factors including how much education people have, how much money they earn, the job they
hold, and where they live. Children raised in households with a high socioeconomic status tend
to have greater access to opportunities, while those from households with lower socioeconomic
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status may have less access to such things as health care, quality nutrition, and education. Such
factors can have a major impact on child psychology.

Children playing outside get aerobic exercise and gain skills, such as pushing and pulling
outdoor play equipment. Studies show children burn more calories outdoors, helping to prevent
obesity and strengthen bones and muscles. Time spent playing outdoors is also thought
to help relieve stress and anxiety by reducing levels of the hormone cortisol in the brain. A recent
study in the UK found that even just five minutes of exercise
in a natural outdoor environment can rapidly improve self-esteem and mental health and
wellbeing in young people. Outdoor play improves physical development. Physical
skills are important for growth, physical coordination and the movement of the body. When
children play outdoors they increase their ability to balance, jump, climb, throw, run, and skill.
Outdoor play is not only beneficial, but also crucial for the brain's healthy development. ... The
experience of playing forces the brain to make those neurotransmitter connections that are
critical to a child's development. Imaginative play and child development go hand in hand.
The importance of play for children's healthy development is grounded in a strong body
of research. As a natural and compelling activity, play promotes cognitive, physical, social, and
emotional well-being, offering the necessary conditions for children to thrive and learn. Through
play, the child can experiment, solve problems, think creatively, cooperate with others, etc.,
gaining a deeper knowledge about his/herself and the world. From an early age, the possibility to
experience several opportunities for unstructured play, in which the child can decide what to do,
with whom nd how, promotes positive self-esteem, autonomy, and confidence.
Acknowledging the influence of time and space in play experiences, in this article we address the
special contribution of the outdoor environment to fulfil children's needs for free play, reporting
into an outdoor educational project developed with a group of 14 children, between 15 and 36
months old, in a Portuguese early childhood setting. The work presented aims to identify
important dimensions of outdoor play that contribute to effective learning and healthy
development, and highlight the role of professionals and families in the provision of such
experiences in early childhood education settings.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Playing outside can help children get many benefits including these are increases
attention span, provides vitamin D, and lastly it enhances their vision. Increase attention span
this has been shared in the shared in the American Journal of Public Health has shown that
greener, more natural settings appear to reduce ADHD symptoms in children and may encourage
more independent thinking. Kids who play outdoors more often may focus better than kids who
don’t get much time outside. Also, the sun can provide vitamin D, because these days the
children aren’t going outside so the can’t enough vitamin D, an essential vitamin, just by
drinking milk. The sun provides a free and natural way to reap these benefits and more:
preventing heart disease and building strong bones. Be sure to increase vitamin D in your child’s
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diet to reach the desired amount of 400 International Units per day. Lastly it enhances their
vision because of the sudden rise of technology more and more children are getting addicted to
playing video games at home which they didn’t know that can harm their vision which is why
the Optometry and Vision Science reported said that spending more time outside can help
increase your child’s farsightedness, due to the pupil restriction in a brighter light.
[Unknown?] (2017) The Benefits of playing
Children today aren’t really physically active. If you asked kids why they run, jump,
swing or climb, they’ll tell you, “…because it’s fun.” But researcher shows outdoor play is much
more than just fun, it’s necessary to help kids be physically fit and healthy. When kids are
playing, they are learning reflexes and movement control, developing fine and gross motor skills
and increasing flexibility and balancing skills. On top of that, when kids are involved in physical
activity, they’re building stronger muscles and improving bone density, improving heart and lung
function and preventing obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol. Taking kids to the playground is
one of the most fun, and healthy, things you can do for — and with — them. There are so many
types of playground equipment today, so regardless of their age group and ability, all children
can physically benefit from outdoor play on a playground. Kids have access to so much
technology today, and it can truly decrease the amount of time they spend engaged in physical
play. Parents, as one of the best advocates for physical activity and play, limit your children’s
screen time and set an example of a healthy, active lifestyle that includes plenty of play. It’s the
first step toward putting your children on a path to good physical health.
Ralph W.E (2017) Benefits of Playing
Children these days don’t have any self-esteem and self-confidence that’s why researcher
wanted to put more playground equipment like climbers and overhead hanging apparatuses
present kids with physical challenges, and free play encourages them to take risks. When kids
take that risk and overcome the challenge, they develop a sense of accomplishment that leads to
higher self-esteem. Free play also encourages children to develop skills that build self-
confidence, such as conflict resolution and imaginative dramatic play. Social development with
children—and the ability to play on their own—are also important factors in building self-
confidence. Encouraging children to express themselves emotionally during play is just as
important as encouraging good physical health. Free play has proven to be therapeutic for
children who are emotionally distressed from traumatic situations like child abuse, family
disruptions and/or the experience of natural disaster or war. Studies show that when playing,
children can release emotions and “play out” their traumas so they can share feelings freely. Kids
love the playground for many reasons, but one of the primary reasons they look forward to play
is because it gives them a chance to visit with friends outside of school, meet new peers and play
fun and imaginary games that they might not be able to play at home. But there is much more to
these playground interactions than meets the eye. In actuality, the playground is a complex social
network where kids learn valuable everyday life lessons about interacting with others, social
norms and independence, all while gaining important relationship-building skills.
[Unknown?] (2017) BENEFITS of playing
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Indulging in outdoor games can make children more creative and boost their imagination
skills. Being in the open and surrounded by plants and trees, and other objects can stimulate a
child’s imagination power and tap into their creativity. Kids who spend time outdoors and play
games with each other tend to interact effectively with other kids in contrast to kids who remain
indoors and are isolated and withdrawn. If your child spends more time indoors and lives within
a shell of his own, you should urge him to go out and play with other children. When kids make
new friends, take turns to play without adult supervision, or simply talk to each other, they
acquire and improve their social and communication skills without realizing. And this skill can
help them in the future. Engaging in outdoor games can help kids develop their gross and fine
motor skills. They achieve better agility, coordination, and balance by playing outdoor games.
Kids who productively involve in outdoor games are more likely to lead a well-balanced and
healthy lifestyle later in their adulthood. They have good decision-making abilities. They learn to
challenge themselves and push their limitations thus becoming better at risk assessment.

Mrunal (2019) AMAZING Benefits of Outdoor Playing

Play is essential to the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being of children
beginning in early childhood. It is a natural tool for children to develop resiliency as they learn to
cooperate, overcome challenges, and negotiate with others. Play also allows children to be
creative. It provides time for parents to be fully engaged with their children, to bond with their
children, and to see the world from the perspective of their child. However, children who live in
poverty often face socioeconomic obstacles that impede their rights to have playtime, thus
affecting their healthy social-emotional development. For children who are underresourced to
reach their highest potential, it is essential that parents, educators, and pediatricians recognize the
importance of lifelong benefits that children gain from play.

Regina M.M (2012) THE Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development 

Local

Outdoor areas are ideal places for children to engage in messy play with sand, water,
paint and other art and craft activities. The outside playground offers a much wider variety of
natural materials to stimulate the senses. Paddling pools are great for water play; your toddler
will enjoy splashing and kicking, include cups and containers of different shapes and sizes for
stacking, scooping and pouring. Bubble machines are also great for developing spatial awareness
as your child excitedly attempts to catch bubbles floating through the air. As children move into
the preschool years (2-5 years), they engage in more active play. They are learning to use
wheeled toys and enjoy climbing large playground equipment. Your child will also enjoy playing
with balls, bowling sets, skipping ropes, and racket games. The outdoors presents more
opportunities for children to engage in active play, important for the development of key motor
skills such as running, balancing, chasing, throwing and catching. Outdoor play also offers
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children opportunities to explore their environment in relationship to themselves; create their
own places for play; and engage in imaginative play experiences with both realistic (e.g., chubby
houses, tents, clothes lines, trucks) and symbolic (e.g., cartons, logs, rocks) props. Outdoor play
spaces are great for those times when children need to play games that involve lots of noise as
well as non-violent rough-and-tumble play. Use these opportunities to talk to your child about
“inside” and “outside” voices and the different volumes that go with these!

Outdoor active play can be intensely stimulating and creates opportunities for children to
learn about and develop self-control. Research has shown that popular children are more likely to
engage in high levels of physical play with peers. Unpopular children, on the other hand, seem to
experience difficulty with the intensity of physical play and often become over stimulated and
“out-of-control”.

[Unknown?] (2015) IMPORTANCE and Benefits of Playing Outdoors

Uso ngayon sa mga kabataan ang paggamit ng gadgets sa halip na lumabas at

makipaglaro kasama ang iba pang paslit. Pero ayon sa isang development and behavioral
pediatrician, dapat hinihikayat ng magulang ang pisikal na aktibidad sa mga anak, sa loob man o
labas ng bahay, dahil nakabubuti umano ito sa kanilang maayos na paglaki. Paliwanag ng doktor
ay naglalabas ng hormones ang katawan ng mga bata tuwing naglalaro na nagdudulot ng
"kasiyahan." "Ang paglalaro po ay nakakatulong sa kanilang mental and physical development,
'pag ikaw po naglalaro nagri-release tayo ng certain hormones parang natutuwa ka," ani
pediatrician Francis Dimalanta sa "Good Vibes" ng DZMM nitong Martes. Bata pa lang aniya ay
dapat bigyan ang mga ito ng laruan para matuto silang gamitin ang kanilang mga kamay at
paa. Hinihikayat din dapat ang "unstructured learning" kung saan hinahayaan ang mga bata na
suriin ang kanilang mga paligid at pinaiiral ang iba't ibang uri ng paglalaro na may kaugnay sa
sining,palakasan, at pagbabasa. Pero klinaro ni Dimalanta na hindi kailangang mamahalin ang
laruang ibibili para sa bata. Maaari ring gumawa aniya ng "improvised" na laruan kung nais
makatipid. Mahalaga rin umano ang pagkakaroon ng oras kada pamilya kung saan
ipinagbabawal ang paggamit ng gadget. Importante pa rin aniya ang pagbabalanse ng paglalaro
ng bata sa kaniyang pag-aaral. 

Francis D (2018) KAHALAGAHAN ng 'paglalaro' sa paglaki ng bata

Sa pamamagitan ng laro, nalilinang ng bata ang kanyang pag-iiisap, ang kakayahang

makisama sa iba, nahahasa ang pagsasalita at pakikinig, at natututo silang dumiskarte at maging
malikhain. Ang laro kapanalig, ay hindi lamang libangan o pampalipas oras ng mga bata. Ito ay
makapangyarihang instrumento na tumutulong sa pagbubuo ng pagkatao ng isang
indibidwal.Dati rati, kapanalig, ang laro ay bahagi ng ating simpleng buhay. Nakakalaro pa tayo
noon sa labas na walang takot sa polusyon o karahasan. Ngayon, mas doble ingat na ang mga
pamilya. Hindi na kasing rami gaya ng dati ang mga batang naglalaro sa labas ng kanilang bahay
ngayon.Ang sitwasyong ito ay hindi naman dahil sa direktang desisyon ng mga pamilya. Ito ay
dahil din sa ilang salik na eksternal na sa pamilya. Isang dahilan nito ay ang kawalan ng espasyo
para sa laro ng mga bata.Maraming mga munisipyo at bayan sa ating bansa kapanalig, ang
walang espasyo para sa laruan at libangan ng mga bata. Wala silang playground na maaring
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puntahan at walang mga activities o gawain na malalahukan upang sila ay makapaglaro. Ayon sa
isang pag-aaral ng Play Pilipinas, isang nongovernment organization, 16% lamang ng mga
kabataan sa public schools ang may access sa mga playgrounds habang 4% lamang ng mga bata
sa urban communities ang may access sa mga palaruan.

Ang Ecowaste Coalition naman, noon 2014, ay nakita na may mga playgrounds sa ating
mga syudad na may mataas na lead content, na nakakasama naman sa mga bata. Sa ilang mga
pagkakataon, umaabot sa 215,000 parts per million (ppm) ang lead content ng mga aparato sa
mga palaruan. Ang threshold limit lamang, kapanalig, ay nasa 90 ppm.Hindi lamang ang espasyo
o playgrounds ang banta sa karapatang maglaro ng bata, ang kahirapan din ay isa sa mga
matitinding hadlang sa paglalaro ng bata. Ninanakaw nito ang pagkakataon ng bata na malasap
ang kanilang kabataan. Dahil sa kahirapan, maraming mga bata ang nasa lansagan hindi para
maglaro kundi para mamalimos at magtrabaho. Sa ngayon, ayon sa ILO, tinatayang mahigit pa
sa tatlong milyong bata Pilipino ang sadlak sa mapanganib na uri ng child labor.Kapanalig, ang
karapatan ng bata na maglaro ay dapat nating itaguyod. Ang paglalaro ay importanteng bahagi
ng kabataan. Kapag ito ay iyong tinanggal, kulang ang ating pagkatao. Ayon nga sa Rerum
Novarum, ang karapatan ay dapat irespeto ng lahat, at tungkulin din ng pamahalaan ang
protektahan ang karapatan ng lahat, bata man o matanda. Ang Gaudium et Spes ay nagsasabi rin
na ang dignidad ng ating pagkatao ay nangangahalugan na ang bawat indibidwal ay may access
sa mga bagay na magbibigay sa kanya ng pagkakataon na mamumuhay ng ganap at disente.
Kapanalig, ang bata ay nakadepende sa atin; sa atin nakasalalay ang kanilang buhay at ligaya.
Ang karapatan ng mga bata na maging bata ay atin sanang kilalaning lubusan.

Anton P (2017) LARO at ang Bata

Inihayag ng pamunuan ng Department of Education (DepEd) na mahalaga ang paglalaro

ng mga bata upang magkaroon ng malusog na pangangatawan at pagkakaroon ng kanilang total
development.Ayon sa DepEd, marami ang natututunan ng mga batang nasa edad na 10-pababa,
tulad ng pagkakaroon ng lakas ng loob, concentration, baÂlance, strategy, coordination at
creativity.Sinabi ni Education Assistant Sec. Tonisito Umali, sa kanyang pagtanggap ng mga
laruan kamakailan na donasyon ng Play Pilipinas, Johnson & Johnson at Ogilvy sa Barangay
Montalban, Rizal, hindi dapat sinasaway ng mga magulang ang kani-kanilang mga anak sa
paglalaro.Aniya, may mga magulang kasi na inaalisan nila ng karapatan ang mga bata na
maglaro sa halip ay pinupuwersa upang magtrabaho sa mga gawaing bahay o kaya ay tumulong
sa paghahanap buhay.Di Lang laro ang laro, we are not only giving our children the opportunity
to play, but also informing parents about the many benefits of play. We believe that children,
apart from being encouraged to be physically active, also learn values and skills through play,
pahayag pa ni Umali.Sa panig naman ni Sigfrid Perez, executive director ng Play Pilipinas at
Kris Llanes, brand manager ng Johnson & Johnson, hindi lamang physical ang gumagana sa bata
kapag naglalaro, kundi maging ang kanyang brain power.

Mer L (2013) MAHALAGA ang paglalaro ng mga bata

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Ang paglalaro sa labas ay nagbibigay ng mas maraming pagkakataong gumalaw,
magsiyasat at tuklasin ang iba’tibang kapaligiran. Ang pagtuklas ng mga bagay-bagay sa labas
na manipis, makapal, magaan, mabigat, makinis o mga pagkakaiba ng bawa’t isa ay kasiya-
siyang paraan upang ang mga bata ay matuto sa paggamit ng kapaligiran. Ganoon din, ang
paggalugad sa damo o buhangin, o ang pagdanas ng simoy ng hangin, ay isang pagkakataon
upang madama ang kahalagahan ng paglalaro sa labas. Ang labas ay puno ng iba’t-ibang ingay,
mga tanawin at mga pakikipagsapalarang naghihintay upang tuklasin. Ang pisikal na gawain ay
dapat pang-araw-araw na uunahin ng bawa’t pamilya, at ang mga batang may iba’t-ibang antas
ng kakayahan. Magtulungan sa inyong paalagaan upang matiyak na ang inyong anak ay may
mga sari-saring pagkakataon para sa aktibong paggalaw at malayang maglaro ng di-kukulangin
ng tatlong oras bawat araw.

[Unknown?] (2011)S ANG kahalagahan ng aktibong paglalaro

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES (FROM BOOKS)

Urie Bronfenbrenner credits his own childhood environment with directing his attention
to the crucial role children's social and physical settings play in fashioning their development. It
was my good fortune to have been brought up on the premises of a state institution for those who
were then called "the feeble minded." where my father was a neuropathologist. Along with his
medical degree, he had a Ph.D. in zoology, and he was a field naturalist at heart. The Institution's
grounds offered a rich biological and social terrain for his Observant eyes. From such a vantage
point, young Bronfenbrenner learned how plants and animals' surroundings affect their growth as
well as how the social and physical environment of an institution can influence the development
of its residents. Specifically, he noted that the social behavior, personalities, and tested
intelligence of people held at the institution changed in relation to the social situations in which
they were placed. This early introduction to the influence of environments on the development.
Fate of living things had a strong effect on Bronfenbrenner's later career as a developmental
psychologist at Cornell University. Much of his academic life there was dedicated to cross-
cultural research in such diverse locations as Nova Scotia, the Soviet Union, China, Eastern and
Western Europe, Israel, and the United States. As a result of his observations, he concluded that:

Seen in different contexts, human nature, which I had previously thought of as a singular
noun, became plural and pluralistic; for the different environments were producing discernible
differences, not only across but also within societies, in talent, temperament, human relations,
and particular in the ways in the culture, or subculture, brought up its next generation (1979, p.
xiii).

He also recognized that the environments in which children live are so multifarious and
intertwined that the task of understanding their effect on children are extremely demanding. To
simplify and systematize this task, he devised the ecological theory of development. Whose
principal features are described in this chapter, but before we concentrate on Bronfenbrenner's
Scheme, we may profit from recognizing some of the events in the realm of Ecological
psychology that preceded and paralleled his work.
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Urie B (2013) COMPARING of child development theories

We've all seen the happiness on the face of a child while playing in the school yard. Or
the blissful abandon of a golden retriever racing across a lawn. This is the joy of play. By
definition, play is purposeless, all-consuming, and fun. But as Dr. Stuart Brown illustrates, play
is anything but trivial. It is a biological drive as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition. We
are designed by nature to flourish through play.

Dr. Brown has spent his career studying animal behavior and conducting more than six-
thousand "play histories" of humans from all walks of life-from serial murderers to Nobel Prize
winners. Backed by the latest research, Play explains why play is essential to our social skills,
adaptability, intelligence, creativity, ability to problem solve and more. Particularly in tough
times, we need to play more than ever, as it's the very means by which we prepare for the
unexpected, search out new solutions, and remain optimistic. A fascinating blend of cutting-edge
neuroscience, biology, psychology, social science, and inspiring human stories of the
transformative power of play, this book proves why play just might be the most important work
we can ever do.

If it's not fun, I don't want to do it has been a mantra of mine for as long as I can
remember. Sure I've done a great many things which wouldn't qualify as fun; I just didn't enjoy
them as much...until I learned how to find the joy in doing them. This book shines a searchlight
on the often overlooked NEED for play in the lives of all humans, children and adults.
Everything from fidgeting to fantasy occupations, from riddles to rough play is covered in detail
and I thoroughly enjoyed each chapter. We often get so caught up in the minutiae of
assignments, grading, etc. that we can lose sight of the real joy of teaching and learning. This
book supplies us with the information and ammunition we need to remember why we entered the
teaching profession in the first place. It also inspires ideas about how to better involve our
students in their own, playful, learning process. He does provide a window into the role play has
in development of children and our species. He discusses the ways that the lack of play affects us
as adults and suggests some ways to rediscover our play. In this way, the book is a kind of self-
help book. It is a good starting point for people thinking about the value and importance of play.
Play is a missing puzzle piece not only in my own life but probably in many of the lives of
people I know. Scientific yet still readable. He believes play is the cornerstone to happiness. A
few sections were a little dull, but for the most part play is accessible and a much-needed
reminder.

“I see children learning through their play. The total expanse of play, from noticing one's
fingers & toes to blocks and dolls and beyond to playground equipment and running wildly about
as well as interacting in group games develops our minds and our bodies and souls. I have first-
hand witnessed the benefits educationally the important influences play has on life and living a
happy, well-adjusted, meaningful life”. “My extensive research into those deprived of play is
compelling enough to make you call someone for a playdate”. The book presents the idea of
play as a human need, just as sleeping and eating are. “It makes you aware of how important it is
to keep a play state in all areas of your life and truly gives you a new perspective on life”.
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Dr. Stuart B. (2010) PLAY: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the
Soul

Connecting theory to practice, this book highlights the importance of play for the social,
emotional, and intellectual development of very young children. Combines theoretical and
practical information and includes guidance about how to improve interactions with children,
select materials for young children to use, and work with families to support children
development. Through vignettes, photographs, and narrative text, learn a range of ideas to help
infant-toddler teachers become more responsive to children’s cues and more intentional in their
interactions and play with children. Early childhood educators wear many hats in the classroom:
teacher, guide, scheduler, caregiver, supervisor, and communicator, among others. “They also
facilitate children’s play. Research has demonstrated the power of play for fostering young
children’s development in a variety of areas, including mathematics, spatial skills, language
development, scientific thinking, and social skills”. “They understand the tension between the
need to fulfill many different classroom roles while at the same time being intentional and
evidenced-based in pedagogy and practice, specifically regarding play in the classroom”. The
goal of the book is to provide early childhood educators with guidance for creating
developmentally appropriate methods for supporting children’s play and learning. In pursuit of
this goal, the book is well organized and easily digestible for busy educators. The introductory
chapter (Chapter One) provides an overview of the importance of play and what it means to
foster children’s development in a playful context.

The authors also include a section on electronic toys and screen devices. With the
increasing prevalence of these devices in homes and classrooms, contextualizing their presence
with the reminder that contingent adult-child interactions are the bedrock for healthy
development reminds educators to look for ways to either avoid these devices or use them in
ways that support learning and development. The rest of the text is divided into chapters focusing
on young infants (0 to 9 months), mobile infants (8 to 18 months), toddlers (16 to 36 months),
and children with diverse characteristics, abilities, and needs. Each of the age-based chapters
starts by giving a snapshot of children’s development during that particular range, then gives
practical examples and tips for supporting children’s play. The authors also include extensive
lists of additional resources for teachers and families in each chapter. In Chapter Two, focusing
on 0- to 9-month-old infants, the authors use vignettes to describe how to design safe and
supportive play environments for infants. For example, they provide information about how
materials connect to skills, such as using stacking rings to support cognitive development.

Chapter Three (8- to 18-month-old infants) features additional vignettes about play
materials, including making homemade play dough. This chapter also highlights the ways in
which play fosters specific skills, such as a pop-up toy helping children explore the concept of
cause-and-effect. In Chapter Four (16- to 36-month-old children), the authors provide detailed
information about designing toddler play spaces to focus on a variety of play types, including
dramatic, nature, cognitive, gross motor, sensory, and block play. They also encourage educators
to choose play themes that are meaningful for children, meaning that they connect to children’s
lives and previous experiences. Examples of these include a doctor’s office and a grocery store,
among others. Finally, Chapter Five focuses on children with diverse characteristics, abilities,
and needs, and gives specific examples of how to work with children and their families to ensure
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that all children, regardless of disability status, language background, etc., have opportunities for
developmentally appropriate play.

The strongest component of the book is the authors’ commitment to demonstrating how
play and learning connect at various points in development. Research suggests that humans learn
best in active (not passive), engaged (not distracted), meaningful (not disconnected), joyful,
iterative (not static), and socially interactive contexts. Play is well-situated to speak to all of
these contexts. This Is Play provides concrete examples in each chapter to help early childhood
educators create play opportunities that align with these best practices.

Another strength of the book is the authors’ focus on supporting play for all children
regardless of disability status, age, language background, medical needs, and other factors. Using
people-first language throughout highlights the authors’ commitment to seeing children first,
before seeing their diagnoses. The framing of the book by overlapping age groups also signals
that the authors understand that development does not follow a strict timetable, but instead that
there is a range of individual differences. This Is Play also explicitly acknowledges the financial
challenges that early childhood educators face when trying to plan play activities and spaces for
their classrooms. The authors provide strategies for saving money without sacrificing the quality
of the play experiences.

Perhaps the one piece missing from the book is the construct of playful learning. The
authors define play in Chapter One and then review several different types of play; interpersonal,
exploratory/sensorimotor, relational, constructive, symbolic, and rough-and-tumble. However,
much of the play described in the book fits under the umbrella of playful learning, including free
play, which is both child-initiated and child-directed; guided play, which combines the
exploratory nature of free play with developmentally appropriate scaffolding in support of a
learning goal; and games Much of the play that the authors describe throughout the book would
be classified as guided play. Guided play can be an adult simply setting up play materials in a
pre-planned environment that is designed to spark learning; for example, a teacher reading a
book about farms in class and then setting up a play center with a farm play set featuring some of
the children’s newly learned vocabulary words. Guided play can also be an educator joining in
children’s play to support learning by asking questions or scaffolding interactions. This Is
Play includes many examples and guidance highlighting the importance of both adults as play
partners and their scaffolding of learning opportunities during play, which is very much in line
with the concept of guided play. Adding a discussion of playful learning, and guided play in
particular, would only serve to further connect the book with the current literature.

Overall, This Is Play is a much-needed addition to the literature written for early

childhood educators. The book is easy to read, provides many concrete examples, and is
inclusive of the varied needs of children. Early childhood educators have myriad daily
responsibilities in the classroom, but the authors provide clear guidance to help educators create
and support children’s play without adding too much more to their plates.

Julia L. , Aarti S. , and Janet T (2019) THIS is Play: Environments and Interactions that Engage
Infants and Toddlers
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“Today’s kids have adopted sedentary lifestyles filled with television, video games, and
computer screens. But more and more, studies show that children need “rough and tumble”
outdoor play in order to develop their sensory, motor, and executive functions”. Disturbingly, a
lack of movement has been shown to lead to a number of health and cognitive difficulties, such
as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), emotion regulation and sensory processing
issues, and aggressiveness at school recess break. Using the same philosophy that lies at the heart
of her popular Timber Nook program—that nature is the ultimate sensory experience, and that
psychological and physical health improves for children when they spend time outside on a
regular basis—author Angela Hanscom offers several strategies to help your child thrive, even if
you live in an urban environment. “Today it is rare to find children rolling down hills, climbing
trees, or spinning in circles just for fun”. “We’ve taken away merry-go-rounds, shortened the
length of swings, and done away with teeter-totters to keep children safe”. Children have fewer
opportunities for unstructured outdoor play than ever before, and recess times at school are
shrinking due to demanding educational environments. Balanced and Barefoot offers new ways
to see, solve, and prevent the reactive behaviors and emotions that cause kids to struggle and
parents to worry. Full of practical ways to give kids the kinds of experiences that will help them
thrive, this book is a must-read for parents and teachers alike. “It really lets you better understand
the importance of play and being outdoors for the proper development and well-being of
children”.

It provides powerful information regarding the importance of both nature and

independent play opportunities in children's lives, as well as suggestions for how to make
positive changes in both one's family and community. With the conversation about getting
children outdoor and learning through play reaching ever more people, this book provides a way
to spread the message with information that is both well-researched and applicable to family life.
It presents an easy-to-read, well-articulated argument for more outdoor time for children of all
ages. Speaking directly to parents, the author uses common sense, stories, and plenty of recent
research to justify the simple fact that playing outside is not only good for us, but is necessary for
healthy development, both body and brain. A boon especially for those families with stressed and
sensitive kids. It stretch the boundaries of independence within reason so that our kids can have
some of the freedoms we enjoyed while growing up ourselves. It provide essential information
and advice to help parents, educators, caregivers and clinicians understand the importance of
including ample unstructured time outdoor, in all weather, to play, explore and take risks, for
healthy human development.

Angela J.H (2016) BALANCED and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes
for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children

Raising children today is harder than ever before, but children haven’t changed all that
much. The best way to get children to develop their imagination and creativity, motor and
sensory skills, emotional and social intelligence, and every other physical and mental ability, is
to get them to “go outside and play” with open-ended, child-led play that can be enjoyed in the
backyard. There are proven, evidence-based approaches for the role parents should take in
facilitating this kind of play. And you can learn them quickly and apply them tomorrow. This
doesn’t mean getting rid of every after-school activity, throwing away every toy in the house, or
putting the kibosh on screen time forever. But it does mean making sure that children have active
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playtime necessary to prevent physical and psychological maladies. It’s vital, especially with
early-age children, to give them the environment and support they need to develop. You don’t
have to play with children every second, you just need to know the right kind of play and toys to
provide and how to gently guide them. The Backyard Play Revolution is for parents from every
background, regardless of location or income level, and is appropriate for backyards of any size.

“I realized so many things about myself as a parent after reading this book. First of all, I
am overly protective. I have been distilling the idea in their minds that playing risky is dangerous
and should be avoided. I love the theme of this book because it also reminds us that we were
once children too, only we have forgotten how to play. I could totally relate to the authors
experience of being in the house with the kids, and either having them explode like demons with
energy, or become zombies with games and mindless television. These are energy-killing
devices. They have some fun moments but, as the author pointed out, much of our society has
become a packaged, marketed funnel of digital warfare. This why growth is vital for their growth
and their mental development. The book covers all the different types of play that children can
engage in, including risky play. By understanding how kids play and the enjoyment they can
experience out of creating with loose parts found around the home, parents can change their
views of how to engage with their kids. The importance of outdoor play, and once again it is
aimed at getting you, the parent or caregiver, thinking differently about how your child needs to
play and how simple it will be to make that happen for them. You can tell the author is passionate
about his two young children enjoying the mental, social and physical benefits of playing
outdoors. He talks about the how you can use loose parts that encourage fun learning and
creativity. Jason brings to life what he talks about by having many pictures of his two young kids
enjoying the activities he describes in this book.”

Sperling J.R (2015) THE Backyard Play Revolution

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE (LOCALS) (FROM BOOKS)

“My kids love to be outside and I was looking for something to occupy them for longer
periods of time”. “I'd tried a water table with toys, but that only kept them busy for so long”.
This book offered the perfect solution and made our yard play easier and less expensive than I
thought possible. Also, it encourages creative play which our 6 year old daughter especially
loved. She's been dreaming up lots of new recipes and toppings for her mud "delicacies". I think
it's also helping her learn about what goes into cooking real food. Maybe I'll have a willing
kitchen helper before I know it. I'm always looking for new ideas to get the kids motivated to
play outside and get away from the screens inside. This is important because the kids were
getting bored quickly in our backyard on those days when I needed to get laundry or other work
done inside before we ventured out. It also discusses philosophy and cites literature supporting
the basic premise that outside child driven play is good for kids and mud kitchens are a way to
accomplish this. I've seen these kids play in his mud kitchen and can attest to the power of how
attractive it is and how fun. I'm always looking for new ideas to get the kids motivated to play
outside and get away from the screens inside. This is important because the kids were getting
bored quickly in our backyard on those days when I needed to get laundry or other work done
inside before we ventured out. The mud kitchen is a great way for them to play with minimal
adult interference and has brought the back yard to life. The power of free play is instrumental in
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a child's development. It also discusses philosophy and cites literature supporting the basic
premise that outside child driven play is good for kids and mud kitchens are a way to accomplish
this.

Jason R.S (2015) HOW to quickly get your kids outside

Changes in current societies are affecting childhood experiences. Time for outdoor play is
diminishing, contributing to more sedentary lifestyles, disconnected from the natural world.
Recognizing the importance of outdoor play for young children's healthy growth, a project
focused on the exploration of the outdoor environment was developed with a group of young
children in an early childhood education setting in Philippines. The project aimed to transform
educational practices, moving from frequent indoor activities to a regular use of the outdoor
environment. In this paper, we present the main dimensions related to outdoor play that emerged
during the project (contact with natural elements, importance of risk, socialization opportunities)
and highlight the role of professionals and families in creating quality outdoor play opportunities.
The importance of play for children's healthy development is grounded in a strong body of
research. As a natural and compelling activity, play promotes cognitive, physical, social, and
emotional well-being, offering the necessary conditions for children to thrive and learn. Through
play, the child can experiment, solve problems, think creatively, cooperate with others, etc.,
gaining a deeper knowledge about his/herself and the world. From an early age, the possibility to
experience several opportunities for unstructured play, in which the child can decide what to do,
with whom and how, promotes positive self-esteem, autonomy, and confidence.

Gabriel B. (2017) THE importance of playing in Child Development

Recent studies have exposed the benefit—even necessity—of spending time

outdoors, both for kids and adults. Some argue that it can be any outdoor environment. Some
claim it has to be a “green” environment—one with trees and leaves. Others still have shown that
just a picture of greenery can benefit mental health. These nuances aside, most of the studies
agree that kids who play outside are smarter, happier, more attentive, and less anxious than kids
who spend more time indoors. While it’s unclear how exactly the cognitive functioning and
mood improvements occur, there are a few things we do know about why nature is good for kids’
minds. It builds confidence. The way that kids play in nature has a lot less structure than most
types of indoor play. There are infinite ways to interact with outdoor environments, from the
backyard to the park to the local hiking trail or lake, and letting your child choose how he treats
nature means he has the power to control his own actions. It promotes creativity and
imagination. This unstructured style of play also allows kids to interact meaningfully with their
surroundings. They can think more freely, design their own activities, and approach the world in
inventive ways. It teaches responsibility. Living things die if mistreated or not taken care of
properly, and entrusting a child to take care of the living parts of their environment means they’ll
learn what happens when they forget to water a plant, or pull a flower out by its roots. It provides
different stimulation. Nature may seem less stimulating than your son’s violent video game, but
in reality, it activates more senses—you can see, hear, smell, and touch outdoor environments.
“As the young spend less and less of their lives in natural surroundings, their senses narrow,”
Louv warns, “and this reduces the richness of human experience.”
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It gets kids moving. Most ways of interacting with nature involve more exercise than sitting on
the couch. Your kid doesn’t have to be joining the local soccer team or riding a bike through the
park—even a walk will get her blood pumping. Not only is exercise good for kids’ bodies, but it
seems to make them more focused, which is especially beneficial for kids with ADHD. It makes
them think. Louv says that nature creates a unique sense of wonder for kids that no other
environment can provide. The phenomena that occur naturally in backyards and parks everyday
make kids ask questions about the earth and the life that it supports. It reduces stress and
fatigue. According to the Attention Restoration Theory, urban environments require what’s
called directed attention, which forces us to ignore distractions and exhausts our brains. In
natural environments, we practice an effortless type of attention known as soft fascination that
creates feelings of pleasure, not fatigue.

Danielle C. (2014) IS playing outdoor is important to children

Whether you grew up in a suburb, on a farm, or in a big city, you probably spent a lot of
time playing outside, getting dirty, and coming home happy. Maybe you watched ants making
anthills in your backyard, climbed trees in the park, or simply lay in the grass contemplating the
drifting clouds. Children used to spend most of their free time outdoors. They had adventures.
They explored. They got dirty. But childhood has changed; today's children live their lives
indoors. Kids are entertained and they're comfortable inside, but the excitement and enthusiasm
are gone. As more and more children live their lives by their screens, something precious is
falling by the wayside. Go Outside and Play" is a paean to the simple joys of childhood outside
the house. With just the right amount of research on the facts and sparkling anecdotes from a
variety of grown-up children. The pages are inspirational-- making you want to grab your
children and go outside with lots of information on how to make that happen. Research suggests
that a connection to nature is biologically innate; as humans, we have an affinity for the natural
world. When children spend most of their time indoors, they miss out. Problems associated with
alienation from nature include familiar maladies: depression, obesity, and attention deficit
disorder. Kids who have direct access to nature are better learners. Exposure to nature has been
shown to reduce stress and increase attention spans.

When a child is out in nature, all the senses get activated. He is immersed in something
bigger than himself, rather than focusing narrowly on one thing, such as a computer screen. He's
seeing, hearing, touching, even tasting. Out in nature, a child's brain has the chance to rejuvenate,
so the next time he has to focus and pay attention, perhaps in school, he'll do better. But even if
kids don't have any of the specific problems mentioned above, kids who don't get out much lack
the sense of wonder that only nature can provide. I've taken kids into the woods who've never
been there. At first, they're scared because it's unfamiliar, but then you can see them open up and
start exploring. In many places, children's access to nature has been cut off. The woods at the end
were made into a new subdivision. New neighborhoods are carefully planned, and as a result,
they often dramatically restrict what kids can do with nature. Even parks are manicured — there
may be a nice smooth soccer field or a baseball diamond but no rough edges. Rough edges are
the places children gravitate toward to explore, where they find rocks and weeds and bugs.
Efforts to provide nice-looking and safe outdoor spaces are well intentioned, but they give kids
the message that nature is not something you go out in to get your hands dirty. These days, kids
in rural areas are just as indoor focused as their suburban peers, and for the same
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reasons — parental fears, less unscheduled time, an emphasis on computers and other indoor
activities. And while we might think that, historically, kids in cities have had limited contact with
the natural world, it's not always true. In older cities, especially, there are lots of green spaces,
lots of unplanned areas like vacant lots. Sure, it's not the woods, but when we talk about nature
it's not about the kind of nature, it's about children having the opportunity and freedom to explore
what's out there in their surroundings. That may mean a city park, a farm, a patch of woods in a
suburb — even a tiny roof garden counts.

[Unknown?] (2012) WHY does playing is important to children

Nowhere is better than the outdoors for running, jumping, throwing balls, catching, pulling
things, lifting and carrying objects. All these actions require motor skills that improve with
practice. Children playing outside get aerobic exercise and gain skills, such as pushing and
pulling outdoor play equipment. Studies show children burn more calories outdoors, helping to
prevent obesity and strengthen bones and muscles. Playing in the sun builds vitamin D in the
body, which means stronger bones and less likelihood of chronic diseases. According to the
American Academy of Pediatrics, many children have vitamin D deficiencies. Unstructured
outdoor play helps kids learn to take turns, share and develop other positive behavioral skills.
They are more likely to be inventive, explore and learn about the world around them and use
their own abilities. While they invent and play games with siblings or friends, these interactions
help improve communication, cooperation and organizational skills. Additionally, fresh air and
free play reduce stress levels. An optometry and vision science study showed children who play
outside regularly have better distance vision than children who are always indoors. Preschoolers,
in particular, learn new things through their senses. Think of a toddler’s delight at seeing new
animals (sight), stopping at a bed of fragrant flowers (smell and touch), watching the water form
puddles for stomping (hearing and touch) or eating a parent-approved berry from a bush (taste).
On the other hand, children glued to television and electronic devices use only two senses
(hearing and sight). This can negatively affect development of perceptual abilities. Children who
play outdoors regularly are more curious, self-directed and likely to stay with a task longer.
Children who spend most of their time indoors with little exposure to activities requiring their
own initiation and follow-through show less ability to initiate or participate in new activities. In
fact, studies of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) found
that children with ADHD who spent significant time outdoors exhibited fewer symptoms.
Outdoor light stimulates the pineal gland. This part of the brain is vital to keeping our immune
system strong and making us feel happier. Spending time in nature is also associated with
improving mood and happiness. An added bonus is that children who identify with nature are
more likely to become adults who appreciate nature and want to protect the environment.

Danae L. (2014) HOW can a child be ready at playing