The early years of a child's life hold significant clues about their future relationship with nature. A recent survey has revealed a stark divide, with girls aged two playing outdoors significantly less than boys - a difference that may have long-term implications for their health and wellbeing.
Conducted by researchers from the Universities of Exeter and Cambridge, the first national survey of its kind gathered data from over 1,100 parents and carers of preschool-age children across England, Scotland, and Wales. The study aimed to understand how much time these children spent playing in various locations, including at home, in gardens, on streets, in playgrounds, and in green spaces.
The results showed that, on average, preschool children played for around four hours a day, with just over an hour and 45 minutes of this time spent outdoors. The majority of outdoor play took place in private back gardens, while playgrounds and green spaces were common choices when playing away from home. Interestingly, indoor play centres often provided the most adventurous play experiences - a phenomenon that may be driven by their ability to overcome common barriers to outdoor activity, such as traffic, bad weather, and safety concerns.
Dr Kathryn Hesketh, who co-led the study at the Medical Research Council (MRC) epidemiology unit at the University of Cambridge, expressed concern about these early disparities. 'While we often see older children socialised into specific gender roles that can lead girls to spend less time outdoors,' she said, 'seeing this pattern emerge as young as two suggests they may already be disadvantaged when it comes to physical activity.'
Professor Helen Dodd of the University of Exeter, who co-led the preschool study and an earlier 2020 study on older children, highlighted the importance of natural play in promoting physical activity, adventurous exploration, and a connection with the natural world. She warned that insufficient opportunities for adventurous play could hinder children's development and exacerbate existing health inequalities.
The research also revealed further inequalities beyond gender, including differences in outdoor play time among preschool children from minority ethnic backgrounds and those living in urban areas compared to their rural counterparts.