Before children learned to swipe, they learned to climb. Before screens filled their afternoons, backyards, sidewalks and empty lots did. Today, however, childhood has increasingly moved indoors, and the shift is taking a serious toll.
With the rise of high-tech gadgets, children are spending more time inside and less time playing outdoors. Over the past 17 years, children’s health in the United States has steadily declined as screen time has increased, contributing to higher rates of obesity, anxiety and chronic disease.
What’s more – and often overlooked – is that replacing outdoor play with indoor screen time doesn’t just affect physical health, it can inhibit children’s ability to develop essential life skills.
While about 60 percent of American children regularly play outside, many still spend most of their time indoors, according to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health. The poll found that at least 10 percent of American children ages 1 to 5 rarely plays outside, venturing out into the natural world just once a week or less.
“Outdoor play is essential for children’s development and motor skills,” said Dr. Emily Duffy, a board-certified pediatrician with HCA St. Lucie Hospital. “It helps build strong muscles and bones and improves balance and coordination. It also encourages healthy habits through natural, active play.” Outdoor play gets children moving, and movement drives growth. Vigorous play, such as running, jumping and climbing, strengthens bones and muscles while stimulating healthy development. Activities that require children to lift their own body weight or push their physical limits are especially beneficial.
A 2024 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that children living in areas with accessible green spaces had higher bone mineral density than those without such opportunities.
“Outdoor play also enhances cognitive development,” Dr. Duffy said. “It improves attention, focus and problem-solving skills, and it unquestionably supports creativity and imagination. Kids invent more games when they’re outside in nature. They learn to work with what they have and what they see.”
Moreso than indoor spaces, the outdoors offers endless possibilities. A tree stump can become a seat, a table or a stage. A stick can be a wand, a sword or a tool. When children are given access to nature-rich outdoor environments, they explore, build and engage in hands-on play, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills that are critical for brain development.
Outdoor play also supports social growth. “It helps children develop teamwork, sharing, communication and conflict-resolution skills,” Dr. Duffy explained. “If a child is playing an online game and has a disagreement, they can simply exit the game. When kids are playing together in person, issues have to be resolved face to face.”
And yes – getting dirty is part of the benefit. Natural outdoor elements help fine-tune children’s biology, improve mood and strengthen immune systems. When children dig in the dirt, climb trees or make mud pies, they are exposed to beneficial microbes that help train their immune systems to distinguish between what to fight and what to tolerate. Without early exposure, the immune system can become oversensitive, increasing the risk of allergies and autoimmune conditions later in life.
The benefits of outdoor play span all ages. Preschoolers who spend more time outside tend to have healthier BMI scores, better focus, stronger emotional regulation and greater social maturity. Teens who spend more time outdoors demonstrate better cardiorespiratory fitness and less depression. Across all age groups, outdoor time supports both physical and emotional well-being.
“Exposure to natural sunlight supports vitamin D production and healthy growth,” Dr. Duffy said. “Sunlight is nature’s built-in clock, and it helps regulate sleep patterns. Children who play outside tend to sleep longer and wake up less during the night.”
According to Dr. Duffy, there’s no such thing as too much outdoor play. “I recommend at least two hours a day, though I know that can be difficult for busy families,” she said. “The key is to build outdoor activity into your routine like walking to school instead of driving and eating meals outside. Being outside reduces stress, anxiety and hyperactivity. It improves mood and self-confidence and fosters independence.”
One of the biggest barriers to outdoor play today is parental concern about safety. Many parents feel anxious when children climb high or wander too far. But limiting these experiences too strictly can prevent kids from learning how to assess risk.
Risky play, when managed appropriately, teaches children how to test limits, navigate challenges and overcome fear. Because outdoor environments are constantly changing, they require children to adapt, solve problems and persevere through both failure and success.
“Parents can ensure children are supervised and in a safe environment, but they don’t need to direct every moment of play,” Dr. Duffy said. “Let them learn from mistakes. You can’t prevent children from falling their entire lives, but you can teach them how to fall safely to protect their bodies.”
In some cases, Dr. Duffy even prescribes outdoor play instead of medication. “Obesity and hyperactivity are two childhood conditions [that have become much more common] that can often be treated with more outdoor play, either in place of or alongside medication,” she said. “Being outside redirects focus away from food and burns excess energy. Even a simple walk can calm anxiety.”
She recommends introducing outdoor play as early as infancy to build a lifelong connection to nature. Taking a baby for a stroller walk in the sunshine helps foster curiosity about the natural world and a love of being outside in nature that can last a lifetime.
In a world that’s increasingly digital, outdoor play offers children something screens never can. Sometimes, the healthiest thing a child can do isn’t to log on, but to step out the front door.
Dr. Emily Duffy’s office is located at 1881 SE Tiffany Ave, Suite 102, Port St. Lucie. Call 772-398-7936 to schedule an appointment.