One in two children spend less time outdoors than experts recommend, as evidenced by the data from the study with families carried out by the Aiju Guide 2023-2024. Results that highlight the importance of preventing minors from spending so much time in indoor and closed spaces. UNESCO insists on the need for them to carry out outdoor activities, due to the negative impact that the lack of outdoor play entails on their development and on their physical and mental health.
Parents should question whether their child is spending too many hours of their day in one room. To find out, you can take the recommendations of experts as a reference. They consider that babies and children under three years old should enjoy the outdoors for at least two hours a day. In the case of children between four and six years old, this figure is reduced to one and a half hours. While for those between seven and nine it is an hour and a quarter. On the other hand, children between 10 and 12 should spend at least an hour outdoors.
UNESCO highlights the benefits that come with children being able to spend time outdoors. “The particularity of outdoor play is that it includes free-choice, spontaneous, autonomous and playful activities, which promotes the socio-emotional, cognitive and physical development of children,” they say, which represents a key difference compared to staying in an indoor space.
Children who enjoy hours of outdoor play have a lower risk of suffering from chronic diseases, cardiovascular diseases or diabetes. In addition to having better mental health and both cognitive and executive functions. Motor skills are one of the aspects that benefit the most and that will help them gain security. Their academic performance will also be better thanks to an increase in the child's attention and concentration levels.
It is also worth highlighting the influence of spending more time outdoors in relation to socialization. UNESCO ensures that these children will be able to explore their imagination and creativity to a greater extent, as well as experience more interactions with other children and adults. As well as with plants and animals, which helps them develop “environmentally friendly behaviors.”
For all these reasons, this organization urges parents and guardians to guarantee their children's right to play outdoors for the minimum amount of time recommended by experts. Thus encouraging their physical, mental and emotional development in a healthy and beneficial way for them.
