With spring right around the corner, now is the perfect time to get your kids excited about taking their activities outside again. While various kinds of play can be fun and beneficial to your child’s social and cognitive development, there’s nothing quite like the combination of fresh air, games, and learning toys.

How Children Learn Through Play

Play is how children learn and grow — mentally, physically and emotionally. More than that, play is how children develop problem-solving and motor skills as well as learn to share and cooperate. Outdoor play is the perfect environment to maximize these benefits in a fun and healthy way. By interacting with other children, they can learn new skills through imitation and practice sharing their learning toys to benefit others.

Why Outdoor Play Is the Way

As children traverse the world outdoors, they encounter new obstacles and learn to play safely while building a sense of self-confidence and curiosity about their surroundings. Children are also more likely to meet new playmates, giving them greater chances for social play where they can learn, teach, and share.

The open space also encourages freedom of expression and imagination as children create their own games with peers. Playing outdoors also means plenty of room to run, jump, crawl, or climb, providing the right environment for children to grow stronger and explore their athletic interests. Also, studies show that outdoor play in the sunshine and natural elements contributes to healthy bone growth and a stronger immune system.

To help your kids capture these benefits, encourage them to play outdoors from an early age. When kids spend time outside, they are more likely to develop an appreciation for nature and continue a habit of outdoor sports and activity into adolescence and adulthood, contributing to their overall health.

With warm weather coming soon, you can expect to start spending more and more time enjoying the change in seasons with your child. Before your next outing, pick up some learning toys, arts and crafts, and sporting goods to encourage play and child development. Toy Box, based in Mamaroneck, NY, is Westchester’s biggest toy store and is fully stocked with games for kids. To get ready for the outdoor play season, stop by the shop on 300 W. Boston Post Rd. and explore which learning toys capture your child's curiosity. You can also check out their products online, or call (914) 698-7110 if you have any questions about the store.