Outdoor Activity: A No-Brainer for Primary School Children’s Physical, Mental and Academic Health
We all know that regular physical exercise is important, but sometimes we need a nudge. These 9 inspiring reasons to ‘get physical’ at school will have you and your class outdoors and on your feet!
1. It’s essential for brain development.
Studies (lots of studies!) show that with high doses of regular exercise children perform better on executive function tasks that require planning, cognitive function, memory, flexibility in approach, following instructions and an ability to improvise. This exercise includes both cardio activity (think ‘getting out of breath’ tasks) and motor activity (think ‘balance and accuracy’ opportunities). It goes for all children, especially those with ADHD. Any extra physical activity squeezed into the school day will help.
2. Improve children’s mental health and activity.
Being physically active means your brain releases endorphins that literally (and scientifically!) make you feel better. According to the Mental Health Foundation, even 10 minutes of brisk walking increases mental alertness, energy and positive mood. If you can instil regular activity as a habit early on, it will benefit stress and anxiety levels – and gives children a good coping skill if they do develop mental health problems later on. Building even 5 minutes between long sessions will reap rewards, with better concentration, behaviour and results.
3. Social skills and cooperation
Deciding when to end your turn with the skipping rope, or sorting out who was the last one to touch the ball that’s crossed the line, can be tricky. Conflict resolution and cooperation are a major part of life, and outdoor activity is a perfect way to develop it. Dealing with not being ‘the best’, aspiring to improve, encouraging others and taking the rough with the smooth are vital skills for life. A child will soon learn that the green bat does not belong to them, even though it’s their favourite colour. With a kind word, the shy student may hit the ball furthest and flourish. Outdoor physical ‘encounters’ also nurture interests and encourage future friendships.
4. Physical variety is stimulating
It’s boring doing the same old thing. Can your school tempt children to get moving more? After all, not every child enjoys the tumble and fierce competition of the football pitch. Football tables and table tennis tables might be static, but they also develop skills. Football tables, or ‘babyfoot’ as it’s called in France, uses reflex and coordination, concentration and strategy. Played energetically it is active and could encourage reluctant ‘team’ players to have a go. Table tennis is a standard in the French school playground. It can be played by anyone at a basic level. Skills such as backhands, drop shots and spin can be introduced, with children sharing techniques.
Scooters, trikes and bikes are everywhere lately. In a bid to cut carbon emissions, cut costs and reduce dependence on cars, people are taking to wheels; this is the reality of our future. With many children unable to ‘wheel’ safely in their home streets, supplying opportunities to ride will encourage cardio physical exercise AND boost confidence, balance and sharing and cooperation skills. There’s a host of trike and bike designs – from cruisers without pedals to scooters, tandems, circle bikes and taxis. Watch children get fit, creative and social with obstacle courses or free imaginative play. Are we shopping, going on holiday, or off to defeat baddies? Or setting up an obstacle course?
6. Net creativity – and results!
Net games such as volleyball and badminton are different to large team games. They hone individual skills and also develop cooperation and strategy skills with a partner or small group. Hand-eye coordination is developed, along with power and accuracy and aiming. Some children thrive on the satisfaction of working out winning strategies.
Setting up real nets is great if you have space and time. But your class can set up a series of ‘invisible’ nets, quickly and safely, using a line of ropes or cones to represent a barrier. If you do this and supply a range of equipment, children will invent games to play over them, with versions of volleyball, throwing a Frisbee and aiming games.
7. Be prepared to bring the outside in
Not every day is dry and warm, so asking children to bring outside play clothes or extra layers is a must to keep activity consistent. But even on the wettest and cold days, physical activity need not stop. Why not create a ‘wet weather course’ or desk-based ‘quick fix’ inside your class. Give each child one item, such as a soft foam ball, that will be theirs for the week (rotating to another piece of equipment). If you can grab 5 or 10 minutes between lessons, you could decrease tension and release energy with a 100 hand pats of a ball, beanbag ball or koosh ball. Or a list of simple physical movements like jumping and hopping which you call at random. If you can quickly clear a space, online choreographed dance tracks aimed at primary school children such as ‘GoNoodle’ are instant fun with physical results.
There’s no need for outside physical activity to be a drag – or expensive. Children are naturally active and inventive. Without any assistance or manufactured toys, they will play games that cooperate and use energy, with variations of stuck in the mud and tag, hiding games and circle games globally popular. In India, Gillidanda is a popular game of skill, which involves hitting a smaller stick with a larger one. Who can hit it the furthest? Why not reward the best-invented game that uses natural resources and costs nothing at all?
9. Physical Health Benefits
The Youth sport Trust reports that two-thirds of parents with children aged 4 to 10 say the pandemic has worsened children’s wellbeing; a vast majority feel that cuts to PE school sports or break time are likely to have a negative effect. The NHS recommends aerobic exercises and a variety of opportunities to strengthen muscles and bones – things that sedentary children will not experience without being given outdoor exercise opportunities. The human mind likes to be outside, and our bodies require sunlight. Vitamin D, created from direct sunlight, is needed for strong and healthy bones, teeth and muscles.
In Summary:
- Outdoor activity brings so many physical and mental health benefits it cannot be ignored.
- Regular outdoor activity helps cognitive and social development.
- Inventing ways of being active outside can be creative, social and fun.
- Even short bursts of activity can improve concentration, behaviour – and happiness.
- Offering a variety of activities will be motivating to more children.