In the latest issue of Children in Europe magazine, Fredrika Martensson from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences at Alnarp writes that children who have access to outdoor areas with natural play structures such as trees, bushes or hills have more opportunities for open and flexible play which heightens their play mood and has physical and emotional benefits.
The natural characteristics of outdoor areas encourage activities and make it easier for children to join, withdraw from or change a play situation according to what they need, she says.
'Playgrounds are an important infrastructure for children in the outdoor landscape. If play structures are to make room for more than predictable gross motor activity, there needs to be greenery in the vicinity and more extensive surroundings for the children to elaborate on.'
Ms Martensson last week addressed the Children in Scotland conference on outdoor play, jointly hosted by Children in Europe and Fife Council. She cited results from a study which used the Environmental Assessment tool developed for pre-schools that looks at the total outdoor area, amount of greenery, variety in landscape, and the relationship between greenery and open spaces.
It found that where environments scored highly, children tended to pay greater attention and show more self-discipline.
Ms Martensson said the study showed that green outdoor settings make it easier for children of different ages to play together, and improve social interaction and negotiation.
The next step, she said, was to figure out how to give children in urban settings access to rich outdoor environments.
Her concerns were shared by Vegard Dybrik of educational body RKK in Norway, who told delegates at the conference that they should make more effective use of the outdoors to provide children with important physical and social skills, and that practitioners should hold ordinary lessons outside, not just those with a special focus.
Further information
Issue 19 of 'Children in Europe' magazine is available to order from Children in Scotland at www.childreninscotland.org.uk