Young children are spending an increased amount of their time indoors. This article summarises international and Australian research evidence on why this is and considers what this means for their well-being and for the people who support families.

Playing outdoors encourages exploration and imagination - important for the brain development of young children, who learn about the world through their different senses. There’s also research that suggests that nature play improves children’s physical and mental health, social competence, resilience and learning.

By identifying opportunities to encourage more outdoor activities, this paper provides considerations for practitioners and other professionals working to support parents with practical solutions to encourage children to play outside and support families to reduce time indoors.

Key messages

• Young children (0–5 years) are spending more time indoors than in the past, a trend that has been increasing over recent years.
• Children spending less time outdoors may negatively impact their wellbeing and development.
• Some key reasons why children are spending more time indoors include: fewer nature spaces where children can play, increased use of electronic devices, and study being prioritised over play 
• Practitioners can support parents and children to incorporate outdoor play into their activities and encourage families to balance children’s screen time with time in nature.