3 Key Benefits of Outdoor Play

Healthier Children

• Children burn more calories outside.
• Being outside allows children to make big movements. This helps them work their large muscle groups, improve their balance and increase overall strength.
• Outdoor fun also allows children to soak up loads of important vitamin D, which leads to a healthy immune system.
• Children are more curious and stay on task longer when playing outside which keeps the mind actively engaged for longer. Not to mention sunlight makes us generally feel happy. Winning!

French Soda’s top pick for outdoor exploration

Nothing says exploration like our Green Gumboots. Easy to pull on and safe on slippery surfaces these natural rubber boots will become firm favourites.  

 Social & Emotional Development

• Nature provides a natural stress-free environment where children can communicate and negotiate their position.
• When playing outside your child is learning to co-exist in the world. They are finding their place as an individual amongst others.
• Outdoor sand pits and play equipment allow for children to play alongside and observe others.
• Games like catch, soccer or tips teach turn taking and sharing.
• Imaginations are stimulated when the grass suddenly becomes the ocean and children have to decide if they are a pirate, mermaid or hungry shark.

French Soda’s top pick to socialise outside

Functional and stylish, these colourful reversible vests provide warmth whilst allowing for movement.

Sensory Development

Playing outside stimulates a variety of senses;

• Sight

Children will use short vision when studying bugs up close and long vision when running to the fence and back.

• Smell

Think about all the smell’s nature provides, freshly mowed grass, fragrant flowers and of course dog, chook, pigeon or cow poop.

• Hearing

Little ears are used to identify the wind whistling through the leaves or perhaps the thunder from an approaching storm.

• Touch

What child doesn’t love the warmth of the sun on their skin or the coolness of a sprinkler tickling their limbs?

• Taste

Finally, is there anything better than the tingle of your taste buds when you bite into a home-grown strawberry straight from the garden or catch raindrops in your mouth?

French Soda’s top pick for sensory play

A red raincoat will extend play-sessions and keep your little one dry and rugged up when raindrops are falling or wind is blowing.