We all know that children can benefit hugely from getting outside into the fresh air and getting stuck into some messy, free and uninhibited play. As climbing frames sellers we know more than most that outdoor play is hugely beneficial to our little ones but as parents we also know the ongoing battle that we face trying to prize them away from their various electronic toys. Technology is not going to go away in fact it is going to become a bigger part of our lives year by year. With the Be Out There movement introduced by the National Wildlife Federation we can begin to encourage children to get outside more often.

They suggest joining them in their outdoor play. It can be tempting to ship them out the back door and close it behind them for a few minutes peace (trust us we know), but showing them that it’s something that can be done as a family may encourage them to keep doing it. This relates to their next tip which is to lead by example. We spend the majority of our time on technology devices like our phones, computer games, in front of computer screens, television screens amongst other things so it’s not surprising that our children lead a technology based life too.

It is also a great idea to limit screen time each day. Or exchange time spent on electrical toys with time spent outdoors. They can earn time on their Xbox or Nintendo DS through time spent in the garden. This way more of a balance can be met. Outdoor play equipment like climbing frames can encourage unwilling children out into the garden come rain or shine.

We know all too well the hectic schedules five year olds have nowadays and fitting in some free time can seem impossible. The NWF suggest starting small with 15 minutes every few days and building up to the recommended hour a day.

The benefits of getting children outdoors are endless. Their imagination grows, their attention span improves they become less aggressive and their classroom performance is given a boost. All in all children are happier and healthier.

As experts in all things outdoor play equipment shaped, particularly climbing frames, we see free play as an important part of children’s development. However there seems to be a growing trend for helicopter style parenting. Where children are pushed to work and study more, and play less all under their parents’ watchful eye. This is all in the hope they will go on to do great things in the future. We have all become increasingly more protective over our children. Things we did as children, like walk to school on our own and play out in the streets until night fell, are things of the past to many. All this made us wonder are we actually doing more harm than good?

Anyone with children will know parenting is a minefield and at times it’s like we can’t do right for doing wrong. But perhaps letting them off the reins a little can be hugely beneficial.  A recent study claimed that one in five children never go out to play, one third have never climbed a tree or built a den and one in ten cannot ride a bike. It was also reported that 6-8 year olds’ free play time dropped 25% since 1981-1997 whilst home work has doubled and we can only assume these figures have got worse again.

The American Academy of Paediatrics warns that reducing the amount of free play children have can have negative effects on their well being. They become more stressed and in extreme circumstances even depressed. All this threw up hundreds of questions, in our minds anyway. How much free play is enough? How much is too much? How should their time be split?

Climbing frames and outdoor play equipment are great ways to ensure they have easy access to free play. They also introduce an element of challenge. Climbing, swinging, sliding may seem scary at first but can be exhilarating once they have overcome the initial wariness. Building a den and scaling trees may seem a little dangerous to some parents so we hope to take the scary element out and replace it with something safe yet still as fun and exciting.

How much outdoor play do your children get? How much independence do you give them?