It's a Beautiful Day for Neighborhood Play
How outdoor play has become a pandemic essential for kids.
When asked how kids are making it through this pandemic, one mom’s answer said it all: “For kids, being able to go outdoors and be with friends is essential.”
Over the past year, from coast to coast and everywhere in between, kids have found solace and escape in the great outdoors. In a research study conducted by MLN Research among children in the US, the majority of kids interviewed explicitly mention being outdoors as one of their favorite ways to spend their newfound COVID-19 free time.
Some kids and parents said outdoor play was rare before the pandemic began but quickly became a mainstay of kids’ lives in 2020.
Being outdoors is a place where kids can stretch their muscles after a long day at the computer: they ride bikes, climb trees, skateboard, roller blade, jump on trampolines, swim (if they’re lucky enough to have access to a pool!), and take long walks with their families.
The outdoors has also been a limitless source of exploration and discovery: kids are making things (one child constructed her own see-saw with wood and tools), they explore the creeks, ponds, and nature around their homes, and exciting scavenger hunts are all the rage.
In an era where technology reigns, time spent outside has been a sweet slice of the idyllic childhoods cherished by older generations of parents and grandparents.
But perhaps most importantly, the outdoors have become the place where kids can safely socialize with other kids.
With school zones widely spread and many 2020 team sports cancelled, a lot of kids discovered—much to their dismay—that friends are far flung and sometimes hard to contact. This has been especially tough on kids under 10 years, who don’t always have smart devices, who aren’t allowed to freely FaceTime or video conference their friends, and who relate more easily through physical play than conversation. (Reflecting on her child’s FaceTime calls, one mom said, “They will show off their toys to each other, but the exchanges are not very deep.”)
Neighborhood friends have helped to fill the friendship gap. One mom described the change in her children once outdoor play became a reality: “In the beginning of the pandemic, it was very difficult. It improved when they were allowed to see other kids and play with them outside. At one point, they formed a ‘Kids Neighborhood Club’.”
Outside but close to home, neighborhood kids can play fun, physical games (like Capture the Flag or Cops and Robbers), challenge each other in contests, and explore their surroundings with a friend.
Even some of the strictest families have allowed their kids to play outdoors with neighbors. Rules are tight and guidelines are followed—but the time spent together with neighborhood friends offers an important morale boost to kids who have lost so much social interaction over the past year. Describing her sons’ interaction with a neighboring family, one mom said “This little bit of socializing helps keeps them going…even on days when we all struggle.”