Kids need outdoor play - here's how to make it happen with a cubby house

Kids need outdoor play - here's how to make it happen with a cubby house

Posted by Castle and Cubby on

Growing up, the idea of kids not playing outside was pretty uncommon. Generally, if you grew up in Australia in the 80s and 90s, a large part of that childhood was spent outdoors.

That's not always the case these days. Life is busier (at least it seems that way), there are less outdoor spaces for kids to play safely and freely, and generally fewer opportunities for kids to engage in unstructured activities.

 

However, the outdoors provides so many incredible opportunities for children to learn, grow and thrive. From physical development to nurturing emotional and intellectual growth, playing outside isn't just for fun – it's an essential part of a child's overall health and wellbeing.

As a parent, you very likely already know the myriad benefits of outdoor, unstructured play. The Royal Children's Hospital National Child Health Poll (2023) shows that 80% of Australian parents want their kids to play outdoors more often.

It's not a question of why, then, but a question of how. That is, how can you great a space where kids can explore the outdoors and their own capabilities, safely?

 

It was this very challenge that led us to creating our first cubby house and, eventually, Castle and Cubby.

Like you, we wanted our kids to be able to play outdoors more, but in a way where we could keep an eye on them and keep them safe.

In our research, we found that cubby houses are great for integrating with outdoor play. That combination of play and learning is a powerful tool in early childhood development.

Play-based learning engages kids in such a different way to structured activities. It ignites their creativity and imagination, encourages exploration and discovery, and allows kids to push the boundaries of the capabilities [and therefore, grow].

Because a cubby house is built for kids, they develop a real sense of ownership over it. They're not trying to fit play into a grown ups world. Instead, it's purpose built for their own activities. Mini cubby house kitchens, tables and benches, and kid-friendly versions of everyday items allow kids to practice the skills they see us doing, while working on crucial skills for life.

 

Advanced motor skills

Opening doors, stepping up and down, sliding, climbing and moving items inside and out a cubby house helps children develop coordination, balance, spatial awareness, fine motor development and sensory development.

 

Self-confidence and independence

A cubby house allows children to explore, experiment and know their physical limits, which helps build their confidence. Outdoors, a cubby house is just separate enough for kids to feel a sense of independence – giving them essentials skills to navigate change as they get older.

 

Problem solving and creativity

If you've ever watched kids playing in a cubby house, you'll know how quickly (and easily) they will invent all sorts of new games. An outdoor cubby house encourages kids to explore their surroundings, make up situations, then play their way through to an ending. All this builds their creativity and ability to solve problems in the 'real world' later on.

 

Social skills

A cubby house facilitates collaborative play – whether with siblings or friends – promoting social skills like sharing, cooperation and taking turns.

 

Calm and relaxation

An outdoor cubby house isn't all about active play. It can also help kids develop the skills to calm and regulate themselves. Kids can be encouraged to go to their cubby house when they're feeling overwhelmed in order to read, colour or play by themselves. Having a cosy space that's their own can allow kids to feel relaxed and safe.

 

Strategies to encourage outdoor play

You don't need a cubby house in the backyard to foster outdoor play. But we do find having a space set up for kids to use all the time is incredibly beneficial for encouraging daily, incidental outdoor play.

1. Make the outdoors accessible

Make it as easy as possible for kids to head outdoors to play. That means removing as many barriers (literal and not-so-literal) to getting them outdoors.

This could mean something as simple as having essentials [shoes, hat and sunscreen] placed in a box right by the back door so you can quickly get ready to go out. In colder months, include a jacket and boots, as well as some dry towels so coming back inside is less messy.

Of course, you may not want, or be able, to let kids out unsupervised at any time. But you can make sure when it's time to head outside that it's as frictionless as possible.

 

2. Organise backyard play dates

Inviting friends round to play in the backyard isn't just easier than going to a playground (no queuing for coffees!), but it also encourages greater cooperative and collaborative play, and helps your kids to see their own play space in a new way.

3. Get out there with them

Sometimes younger kids (and even older ones) just want us to be near them. That doesn't mean you have to be involved in play, but just be close enough to respond when they ask a question or have something to show.

We hear from a lot of parents how much their kids play if they're out there with them. Take your laptop outside and work through your emails, do some gardening, or even sit and enjoy a coffee (hot, even!). Your kids will eventually be happy to go outside and play by on their own.

 

Our mission to champion the value of play and play-based learning for educators, families, and communities to help you in bringing imaginative, purposeful play into everyday life. By encouraging outdoor cubby house play, we hope to inspire young learners to discover who they are and the world around them.

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