POTTSTOWN PA – Children romp in the sunshine, enjoy playgrounds, run across fields, or toss a ball around. They are almost daily play scenes at parks and open spaces across Montgomery, Berks, and Chester counties. Most parents acknowledge those activities and others are important parts of every childhood.
Parental attitudes seem to change, though, when it comes to what they perceive as “messy or risky play.” That’s according to research reported Thursday (June 29, 2023) by the University of South Australia.
Kids’ caretakers, it found, will happily allow ‘safe’ or ‘clean’ nature play, but are more reluctant to let children engage in ‘messy’ activities or play that may be perceived as ‘risky.’ The reasons, it suggests, are understandable. No one wants to see children accidentally injured, and parents may lack time for post-play clean-ups. Educators, the study adds, feel much the same way.
Three major benefits of all kinds of play
What the study describes as “nature play,” broadly defined as doing anything outdoors, offers three major benefits, researcher and doctoral candidate Kylie Dankiw explains. It helps to:
- Improve emotional regulation, physical skills, and learning outcomes. It can encourage children to develop their creativity and imagination;
- Form a connection between children and the natural world, and learn about sustainable practices; and
- Offset the use of increasingly prevalent technology, including television; computer, tablet, and smart-phone screens; and the incursions of social media.
“But despite the known benefits, parents and care-givers can find it difficult when it comes to engaging children in nature play,” Dankiw notes, especially if activities are messy or dirty (such as water or mud play) or are thought of as being risky (such as climbing).
The study recognizes the need to resolve what Dankiw admits is the “conflict between encouraging children to experience nature, and what adults need to deal with in the so-called aftermath.”
A university pediatric expert, Dr. Margarita Tsiros, believes more education for both early childhood educators and parents could help. With skilled training, some of the challenges linked with nature play could be overcome, the physician hopes. Substituting nature play for technology usage might bring changes more quickly, she observes.
“In a time where screens threaten to consume children’s interest, it’s vital that we present opportunities for them to engage in nature play. To achieve this, we need to have parents and educators on board,” Dr. Tsiros says.
Photo on Shutterstock provided by the University of South Australia,
used by Travels With The Post by permission
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