{"id":3041,"date":"2026-01-08T14:25:05","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T12:25:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marjaanakangas.net\/?p=3041"},"modified":"2026-01-08T14:25:05","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T12:25:05","slug":"an-invitation-to-outdoor-play","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marjaanakangas.net\/?p=3041","title":{"rendered":"An Invitation to Outdoor Play"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Happy New Year 2026!<\/strong>
The beginning of a new year is a natural moment to reflect on what truly supports our wellbeing in everyday life. One of the most powerful, and at the same time simplest, ways to do so is through outdoor movement and play: activities that connect body, mind, and environment. Outdoor play and physical activity are not merely leisure activities or something meant only for children. They are fundamental to learning, wellbeing, and quality of life across the lifespan. Play creates space for exploration, imagination, appropriate risk-taking, and shared meaning-making with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research evidence on the importance of active outdoor play<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the years 2024-2025, I have been involved in a large international research collaboration that resulted in the updated Active Outdoor Play \u2013 Position Statement<\/a><\/strong>, published in 2025. This work brings together the latest scientific evidence on the importance of active outdoor play across ages and contexts. The key messages from the research are clear:<\/p>\n\n\n\n