The Importance of Getting Outside

By Jessica Jordan, MS, OTR/L

Recent Changes In School Legislature Encourages Students to Be Outside More

Recent changes have been implemented in school districts across California, offering full-day kindergarten and increasing the amount of time outdoors.  As a pediatric school based OT my heart skipped a beat! 

More recess and more time outdoors allows for related service providers, and OTs like myself, to work with students in their natural learning environments. This helps with improving their motor, sensory, and social skills in an environment that is part of their school routine! 

The Magic Of Nature

Now, let’s speak to the component of being outside in nature. Nature itself can be integrated into treatment (i.e. targeting a child’s dexterity via his/her index finger to count how many butterflies fly by) or having it more as a natural and passive backdrop for the nervous system to filter stimuli.  There are many reasons why taking treatment sessions outside is more beneficial for students and any clients we may work with!

Play is an Occupation for all individuals

To start, “As a species, we have spent 99% of our existence as hunter-gatherers, immersed in the natural world. In 1984, the American biologist Edward O. Wilson popularized the idea of ‘biophilia’, the idea that humans have an innate need to connect with the natural world, even when it has been stripped away. One possibility is that this deep-rooted appeal means that outdoor therapy provides a special form of connection, safety and predictability.”

I also believe when individuals are outside, they associate the outdoors with play! As a pediatric occupational therapist, our job is to promote play, as we understand the importance and value of it as a meaningful occupation in a child’s life.  Playing outside or time outside gives us a mental reset, away from flashing screens and vibrating phones. Thus, sparking an individual's creativity and curiosity with outdoor play, increased opportunities for natural sensory play & gross motor play, and lastly challenging executive functioning by targeting critical thinking skills. And let me remind you that “play” isn’t only an occupation for children, but for all humans! It’s essential for our happiness and stress management.

Overall, it’s a win! Please share below how you are spending time outside! We’d love to hear from you! 

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There are many reason why therapy can be more effective outside. (2020, July 28th). :https://psyche.co/ideas/there-are-many-reasons-why-therapy-can-be-more-effective-outside