Children and Outdoor Play - Building Self-Esteem

by Jeannine Carrol 

• Risk in Childhood

Allowing children to face challenges while playing outdoors can build self-esteem.

"When I was growing up, every neighborhood had a vacant lot somewhere where children gathered - building forts, picking berries, digging to China, and just hanging out.  I regret that children do not have that now."  ~Nancy Alexander

How can we safely allow children the freedom other generations were allowed? 

Has there ever been a time when children were more supervised than now? Parents are afraid to let their children walk to school or leave the yard.
 They must be in sight at all times.  Risk-taking behavior is seen as something to be avoided.  Safety is the primary concern.  If parents won't allow children to leave their sight or take risks, how is this affecting children?

When children are always supervised and protected from risks, can they develop problem-solving-skills and independence?  One of the ways children develop self-esteem is by accomplishing something that is difficult.  We have all seen the glow on a child's face who has just learned to put on his coat or tie their shoes.  When we take the risk out of a child's environment, are they achieving this sense of accomplishment?  Are children, whose play times are always organized and planned for them, developing their imagination and build confidence in their abilities?

How can we design outside environments that are safe but give children a sense or risk? Outside environments have traditionally been filled with adventures and challenges.  Children used to freely explore vacant lots, bike hills, creeks and parks.  They often overcame challenges they would not have faced at home.

First, we need to resist the impulse to over-supervise outside times.  After we have addressed safety concerns, we need to let children have a sense of freedom.  A freedom to run, roll, use outside voices, kick, throw and be carefree.

Second, children need to have some control over their environment.  They need to have lots of variables or loose parts.  Provide boards, tires, blankets, twigs, sand, dirt, water, cardboard boxes and lots of fun things to discover and invent with.  We need to plan for variety in the outside environment just as we do the inside environment.

Third, children need to have many first-hand experiences.  Field trips are an excellent way to achieve this!  Explore new parks and hiking trails.  Give children lots of time to explore the environment around them.  Let them climb trees, roll down hills, walk in creeks, throw rocks, run and be a part of nature.  Be close, but let children take the lead, whenever possible.

The effort we put into letting children have the same quality experiences other generations had will be richly rewarded!  Our children will not only develop independence and imagination, they will have the self-esteem to overcome challenges!