How Outdoor Play Helps Young Children Regulate Big Emotions
Ever noticed how children seem calmer after a trip to the park - or how a meltdown indoors can shift once they’re outside?
That’s not just coincidence. Outdoor play is one of the most powerful (and underused) tools we have for supporting emotional regulation in young children.
As a paediatric occupational therapist, I work with many families navigating tantrums, tears, and sensory overload. One of the first things I often recommend? More time outside - especially in unstructured, natural spaces.
Here’s why it works.
💚 1. Nature offers built-in calming tools
Gentle breezes. Rustling leaves. Birdcalls. The smell of rain on soil. These are all part of what scientists call “soft fascination” - natural stimuli that gently engage the senses without overwhelming them.
This kind of sensory input helps calm the nervous system, especially for young children whose brains are still learning how to manage stress.
🌿 "Nature is like a reset button for a dysregulated nervous system."
🧠 2. Movement supports regulation
Running, climbing, digging, swinging - outdoor play offers whole-body, vestibular and proprioceptive input, which is essential for sensory integration.
In OT-speak:
Proprioception = heavy work that helps kids feel grounded
Vestibular input = movement that helps balance mood and body awareness
These types of input reduce anxiety, support focus, and help kids "burn off" big feelings in a healthy way.
👫 3. Social-emotional learning happens naturally
In nature, play is flexible. Sticks can become fishing rods. Logs become balance beams. Children learn to negotiate, take turns, and solve problems together - with less adult direction.
This builds:
Frustration tolerance
Empathy
Confidence in social situations
And because the environment is less structured, children are less likely to feel boxed in or pressured - helping them stay emotionally balanced.
😌 4. Outdoor space reduces overwhelm
Busy indoor spaces (especially early learning settings) can be visually and auditorily overwhelming for sensitive children.
Outside, there’s more space to move, more freedom to retreat or engage, and fewer demands on the brain’s executive functions.
This supports kids who:
Are sensitive to noise or bright lights
Struggle with transitions
Need extra help managing their emotions
🧺 5. Predictable rhythms create emotional safety
Nature has its own rhythm: seasons, tides, daylight. When children play outside regularly, especially in the same location, they begin to feel secure in that rhythm.
A weekly bushwalk, park visit, or nature-based playgroup creates a safe, predictable routine - which helps build emotional resilience.
🌱 Supporting Emotional Regulation Doesn’t Need to Be Complicated
You don’t need special tools or perfect weather.
Try:
Letting your child dig in the garden after daycare
Going for a barefoot walk on grass together
Starting a little ritual—a few minutes of quiet nature watching each day
The key is unstructured, child-led outdoor time—where they can move their bodies, feel their feelings, and reset their nervous systems.
🌿 Want to try it with support?
At Anna McCauley Occupational Therapy, we run a relaxed, sensory-friendly outdoor playgroup for toddlers and preschoolers in the Northern Beaches.
💚 OT-led
🌳 Nature-based
🧘 Focused on regulation, connection, and confidence
📍 Held in Balgowlah and Fairlight
Meet other families, learn developmental skills, and meaningful play.