Pop the bubble wrap and let kids play outdoors, pediatricians say
CBC
Climbing a tree, tobogganing or rough-and-tumble play are all outdoor activities that children should be encouraged to do to promote health, Canadian pediatricians say in new guidance.
New recommendations released Thursday by the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) emphasize the importance of unstructured outdoor play for children's development and physical and mental health amid rising obesity, anxiety and behavioural issues.
Dr. Suzanne Beno, one of the authors of the guideline, said they don't want parents or educators always inciting fear in children.
"Even situations where there isn't that much danger, we may actually provoke more anxiety and more fear than is necessary."
As an emergency physician at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and head of the CPS's injury prevention committee, Beno said it's also important to distinguish risk from hazard.
"There may be a risk towards climbing to the top of the play structure or climbing a tree," Beno said. "As long as it's thrilling and exciting for that child, that's actually risky play, as they're figuring out how much they can do."
Beno suggested adults in a child's life switch from constant cautions to "be careful" — which youngsters may take as "you don't trust me" — to the following when the child is in a physically risky situation:
While hazards like busy roads or rough waters are clear, others such as being around fire or play fighting are more nuanced, the authors said.
Evidence-based safety measures like bike helmets, life jackets and safety gates can't be ignored.
Common elements of risky play include:
The group said opportunities for risky play fell over recent decades as unscheduled free play outside gave way to planned activities. Now, kids spend more time indoors, often on screens.
Part of the shift stemmed from a focus on preventing all injuries instead of focusing on serious and fatal ones, they said.
The 2022 Participaction report card gave Canadian children a grade of D overall for physical activity and a D– for active play.
Dr. April Kam, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at McMaster University in Hamilton, said it's healthier for kids to play outside to build resilience, develop their abilities and learn what their limits are through natural consequences.
