Fun and Fitness Guide to Playful Play Trends for Kids and Adults

Outside voices are the preferred means of communication between my kids, usually, not exclusive to the great outdoors. (Do my kids even have indoor voices?) The sound of their laughter and enthusiasm is (mostly) music to my ears. Entertaining my family with a healthy dose of good, clean (never!) nature play keeps everyone active, helps all of us to unwind and the positive endorphins released benefit their cognitive, social, emotional, as well as physical development through outdoor fun and fitness activities.

This #PlayfulTrends post is sponsored by the Voice of Play.

Fun & Fitness Guide to Playful Play Trends for All

Finding the balance between nurturing a sense of curiosity and adventure is quite complicated. Kids enjoy unrestricted access to the world around them, which is understandable, yet at times unsafe. To the extreme, exercising excessive safety precautions by limiting or restricting our kid’s opportunities to play outdoors in nature can cause more harm than good. The goal is to create safe boundaries for our little learners to learn through play, providing encouraging guidance without becoming overly involved as supervisors. 

Living in a rural area, hiking has become a family favorite recreational activity. The fact that other than a sturdy pair of shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent and a water bottle, no additional equipment or costly supplies are needed makes for an ideal family activity. We get together to explore and hike up mountains, along beaches, through the city yet never experience the same hike twice.

As both a parent and an educator, my observations show that the freedom of outdoor nature play with established boundaries allows kids to certainly have fun, as well as explore, discover, use their imaginations, interact with others while expanding upon their previous learning experiences. Watching my preschooler become more coordinated and confident as he races along with friends or even solo is one of the many rewarding ways that kids and adults will benefit from playtime, fostering healthy physical and mental development. 

While deciding on our next exciting adventure for a play day, here are a few PLAYFul ideas I keep in mind based on some of the most current play time trends. According to recent PLAYFul research from IPEMA and Voice of Play, here are some of the top positive, productive play trends-

An Hour a Day Play

Made to Move Play

Beyond Childhood Play

It's Better Outside Play

Back to Nature Play

All-Inclusive Play

Take Chances Play

Mind-Expanding Play

There are so many ways for kids and adults to learn and grow through play. Take a look and discover a wealth of detailed information on PLAYFul Trends here. 

The Voice of Play is an education and advocacy initiative of the non-profit membership association, International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA), formed to educate and promote the benefits of children’s free outdoor play and playgrounds. Through the Voice of Play website and social media properties, IPEMA highlights the scientifically proven physical, social, emotional and cognitive benefits of play. Visit IPEMA’s Voice of Play website today at voiceofplay.org

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