How to Build Confidence in Children Through Outdoor Exploration and Play
Kids with a healthy sense of self-esteem are often more secure in who they are and in who they can become. They may perform better in school and in their personal relationships. They may be more likely to take on challenges that can lead to even more self-confidence when conquered.
On the other hand, children who struggle to maintain a positive sense of self-esteem are more likely to fail at school. They may also have a difficult time making and keeping friends. Kids with low confidence often become targets for bullies who prefer picking on easy targets. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or daycare operator, encouraging the kids in your care to be active and imaginative can increase their sense of self-worth. Here’s how outdoor exploration and play can naturally boost confidence levels in children of all ages.
Failure on the Playground Teaches Resilience
Resilience is a key component of confidence. It refers to a person’s ability to cope with setbacks and recover from them. Resilient children have an increased ability to adapt to stress and bounce back even stronger than they were before. Young people with poor resilience don’t know how to overcome challenges and often give up as soon as things get hard. They’re more likely to suffer from low confidence because they automatically assume that they can’t do hard things.
Outdoor play is one of the best resilience-builders in existence. Whether playing basketball or exploring a playground, kids who play outside are bound to face challenges and failure at some point. But if they want to continue having fun, they must learn to keep trying after each failure. That means tirelessly shooting hoops until they make a basket or pumping their legs until they finally get some height on the swing sets. If you see a child give up after a single failure, encourage them to keep trying until they improve.
Taking Risks Enhances Confidence
Risk-taking is often portrayed in a negative light. However, it’s an essential part of healthy childhood development. Risk-taking in a safe environment overseen by adults is so important for helping kids become more confident. It’s impossible to eliminate risk throughout life, so teaching children how to wisely navigate it will help them succeed both now and in the future.
Outdoor play is fraught with real and perceived risks. Kids who learn how to face risks with courage and determination are bound to become more confident in themselves and their abilities. Additionally, engaging in risky park play can help children:
- Learn how to solve problems
- Increase their physical fitness levels
- Nurture their curiosity and creativity
- Foster social skills by engaging with others and taking turns
- Build confidence and independence
Of course, risk-taking must be done within reasonable limits. If a child climbs on the outside portion of a tall covered slide or walks on top of the monkey bars, intervention is appropriate. Teach kids that it’s essential to use the playground equipment as it is intended. Reinforce the idea that they can still have excitement and fun without breaking the playground rules.
Outdoor Play Boosts Mental Health
Spending time outside can have a powerful impact on a child’s sense of well-being. Regular outdoor play can reduce cortisol, which is the body’s stress hormone. It can simultaneously boost “happy hormones” in the body, including dopamine and endorphins. These hormones can help combat depression and anxiety, which are common mental health problems encountered by today’s youth. Additionally, sunlight exposure from playing outside increases vitamin D levels.
All of these effects can lead to improved mental health and a greater sense of self-worth and confidence. Children who spend a lot of time exploring and enjoying the outdoors are often calmer, happier, and less prone to depression. They may also sleep better, which can further enhance both physical and mental health.
Outdoor Play Reveals Natural Skills
Kids who play outside navigate a wide variety of obstacles, from balance-testing swings and beams to strength-enhancing monkey bars. Engaging in a variety of activities can reveal the natural skills different children have. For example, some may be better at jumping rope than their peers. Others may find that they’re very good at quickly scaling rock climbing walls. Some may discover that their strength lies in their courage to try new things.
As kids identify and focus on improving their strengths during outdoor play, they become more self-assured. They learn that even though they can’t be good at everything, they can be very good at some things. As a parent, guardian, or teacher, you can help self-critical children shift their focus from things they’re not good at to areas where they excel. The talents and strengths young people develop on the playground could positively influence their self-perception throughout the rest of their lives.
Engaging in outdoor play of all kinds gives kids dynamic and interesting opportunities to naturally build confidence. Though indoor spaces can also be fun, they typically lack the unstructured and expansive space to explore. Outdoor areas also include a certain degree of unpredictability, which can encourage young ones to become good problem-solvers and decision-makers. Use these tips to help children harness the power of open-air exploration to become more self-confident and well-rounded.
