Getting your children outside can make all the differenc

Parenting can start to feel complicated very quickly. Everywhere we look, there’s a suggestion for a new toy, a new gadget, or something that promises to make parenting easier. Screens offer endless entertainment. Baby gear lists grow longer and longer — multiple strollers, bouncers, walkers, cribs. Before we know it, parenting can feel overwhelming, expensive, and exhausting, like a race we’re always trying to keep up with.

As a mom of five, I’ve found that keeping things simple has brought me more peace than trying to do everything “right.” And one of the simplest things that has consistently helped our family is getting outside.

I can’t count how many times I’ve had a fussy baby that I couldn’t seem to settle — until I stepped outdoors. Fresh air, natural light, and a change of scenery often worked in ways I couldn’t replicate inside. This was true with every one of my children.

Children carry a lot of energy in their bodies. When they have space to run, climb, jump, and create, something shifts. Without walls confining them, their tension seems to melt away. Being outdoors gives children freedom , not just physically, but mentally too.

Time in nature supports healthy brain development and helps regulate the nervous system. Sensory input from uneven ground, fresh air, natural sounds, and movement all work together to help children feel more settled in their bodies. Rather than overstimulating the brain, nature gently organizes it.

Nature also invites problem-solving in quiet, natural ways. A stick becomes a tool. A rock becomes a seat or a step. Children learn to assess risk, adapt their movements, and think creatively without being directed.

Time outside doesn’t just benefit children , it benefits parents too. Being outdoors lowers stress, improves mood, and helps calm the nervous system. Natural light and fresh air create a sense of grounding that many of us don’t realize we’re missing.

I’ve also learned the value of letting children play more freely …climbing, roughhousing, and testing their limits while offering presence instead of constant hovering. When children are trusted to explore within safe boundaries, they build confidence in their abilities and in their bodies.

And this isn’t only important once children are running around. It matters from the very beginning. For newborns, gentle sunlight, fresh air, natural sounds, and new scents support sensory development and help regulate sleep. Sunshine supports overall health and well-being for both babies and parents.

At one point, I made a simple commitment: whenever we were all in a bad mood, we would try going outside — even just for a walk. It wasn’t always easy. Getting cranky kids out the door while I was tired or overwhelmed myself took effort. But over time, it became a habit.

It turned into a quiet experiment. Would getting outside actually help?

Almost every time, it did. Our moods shifted. Our bodies softened. The day felt more manageable.

I’ve fallen out of that rhythm at times, but it’s one I’m always happy to return to.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed as a parent, this isn’t a rule or a prescription , just a gentle invitation. You might try opening the door, stepping outside, and seeing what changes.

Books I Recommend for Getting Outside With Children

Last Child in the Woods — Richard Louv (Link: https://amzn.to/4qbaVql)

Balanced and Barefoot — Angela J. Hanscom (Link: https://amzn.to/3LDyr0e)

There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather — Linda Åkeson McGurk (Link: https://amzn.to/49KHequ)


A Few Thoughtful Resources Behind These Ideas

For anyone who enjoys learning a little more about why these simple practices matter, here are a few well-respected books and research-based works that explore the benefits of outdoor time, risky play, and grounding:

On risky play and confidence

• The Importance of Risky Play in Children’s Development — Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter
  Explores how climbing, roughhousing, and testing limits help children build confidence, resilience, and physical awareness.

On time outdoors and mental health

• Last Child in the Woods — Richard Louv
  Looks at the connection between nature, emotional well-being, attention, and mental health in both children and adults. Link: https://amzn.to/4qbaVql
• Research summarized by the American Psychological Association on green spaces and stress reduction
  Shows links between time spent outdoors and lower stress, improved mood, and better emotional regulation.

On grounding and nervous system regulation

• Research published in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health on grounding and earthing
  Discusses how direct contact with natural surfaces may support nervous system balance and stress reduction.

These aren’t meant to be rules or requirements — just gentle reassurance that what many parents observe intuitively is also supported by growing research.