AD| Why playing in your own garden can be better for your children than a public park
I’m a huge advocate for encouraging children to play outdoors. In the 21st century I find that many parents find it all too easy to just hand their children an iPad or their mobile phone and let them play endless games on them for hour upon on hour.
Whilst I’m not against technology, I do firmly believe that it has a time and a place. It’s great for helping children to learn about certain subjects that can support their schoolwork and it was particularly helpful when I wanted to download and print off some phonics worksheets for my children.
However, I’m no fool and I realise that this current generation is growing up in a world of technology therefore to shun it would be foolish. Inevitably my children will no doubt need to learn how to navigate the internet, use a MacBook and possibly learn coding etc, but until then, I’d rather encourage learning via outdoor play than technology.
For me this starts at home in our own back garden. That’s why I believe there are lots of benefits to children playing in their own garden first and foremost instead of a public park.
For starters children of a certain age have the freedom to play in their own secure back garden without the need for 24/7 adult supervision. My children are seven years old and they really enjoy the feeling of independence when playing outdoors in the garden together without mummy and daddy watching their every move.
Allowing children to play independently gives them the opportunity to take risks, learn about themselves and what they like, plus it helps to develop a wide variety of skills and most importantly it means that your child can become comfortable with who they are.
I like to think that our garden provides my children with plenty of opportunities for natural play. One corner of our garden has bricks, planks of wood, plant pots etc that our children can play with as they please. I find that these different objects really help to enhance their creativity and imaginative play.
I’ve seen my girls use the bricks and planks to create race tracks for their toy cars and I’ve seen them fill the plant pots with mud whilst pretending to make mud pies. The imaginative play scenarios are endless!
Of course we also have some play equipment for our children too. They have a trampoline and a double swing set much like this wooden swing set from Wickey.
Their friends and cousins really enjoy coming over and playing in our garden. When I take my children to a public park I feel like I have to always watch them for a number of reasons. I watch to make sure they’re not talking to strangers and that the other children in the park are playing nicely too. I don’t need to do this when they’re in our garden. I feel like I can relax more.
As mentioned above there are many benefits of outdoor play for children. I would much rather see my children playing outdoors than being stuck indoors staring at a screen. It really is all about balance, although admittedly my children don’t have iPads nor do I allow them to play on my phone!
Advertisement in collaboration with Wickey
