BLOGS
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK (UK): 11–17 MAY 2026
TEACHER BRIEFING: SUPPORTING YOUNG MINDS THROUGH PLAY: THE EVIDENCE
Evidence-based studies show time spent outside gives children space to relax, reset, and connect with the world around them. This helps reduce stress, boost mood, and build confidence.
This Teacher Briefing provides the evidence behind how well-designed outdoor play settings can support safeguarding at your school. This selection of evidence-based studies and reviews demonstrate outdoor play improves children’s mental health. The evidence provides interesting reading and can also be used to support your schools bid for funding to invest in its outdoor space.
UMBRELLA REVIEW OF OUTDOOR PLAY AND HEALTH (2024) [1]
71% of observations showed a positive association between outdoor play and mental health.
Strong evidence that outdoor play benefits:
- Emotional wellbeing
- Social health
- Psychological functioning
Why This is Important:
Umbrella reviews are among the highest levels of evidence
HOW NATURE EXPOSURE IMPROVES MENTAL HEALTH IN YOUNG PEOPLE [2] [3]
Outdoor time reduces cortisol (stress hormone) and improves emotional wellbeing.
Even 10–30 minutes outdoors can:
- Lower stress
- Reduce negative mood
- Decrease rumination (repetitive negative thinking)
- Give brain and cognition benefits
Outdoor Environments are Linked To:
- Better attention and concentration
- Improved cognitive development in adolescents
- Walking in nature reduces activity in brain areas linked to mental illness risk
CHILD-FOCUSED RESEARCH SUMMARIES (2025) [4]
Outdoor play is associated with:
Anxiety and Depression symptoms
Mood and Emotional Wellbeing
Focus and Reduced Hyperactivity
Sleep Quality
Social Skills and Peer Connection
INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE – UNICEF REPORT (2025) [5]
Outdoor play is hugely important for:
- Mental health
- Emotional development
- Learning outcomes
Growing concern: children are spending less time outdoors, despite strong evidence of benefits
ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE (FROM STUDIES & META-ANALYSES) [6]
Meta-analysis: exposure to nature produces small but significant reductions in depressive mood
Outdoor play linked to:
- Greater creativity
- Better emotional regulation
KEY TAKEAWAY (SYNTHESIS)
Across systematic reviews, experimental studies, and global reports, the evidence consistently shows that outdoor play:
- Reduces stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms
- Improves mood, attention, and cognitive function
- Enhances social interaction and emotional development
- Supports overall psychological wellbeing
THE STRONGEST CONCLUSION:
Outdoor play is a low-cost, evidence-based intervention that supports children’s mental health across multiple domains.
[2]: “Outdoor Play: Mental Health Benefits, How to Tips, and More”
[3]: “Benefits of Outdoor Play for Children | UCLA Health”
[4]: “The Benefits of the Outdoors on Children’s Mental Health – The Kids Mental Health Foundation”
[5]: “The importance of outdoor play (and how to support it) | UNICEF Europe and Central Asia”
