Influence of Outdoor Nature Play on Children’s Physical Activity, Cognitive Performance, and Emotional Well-Being

Background: Opportunities for outdoor nature play have declined in contemporary childhood, raising concerns about children’s physical activity, cognitive development, and emotional well-being. Emerging evidence suggests that nature-based play environments may support holistic child development; however, experimental studies examining causal effects remain limited.
Methods: This randomized controlled experimental study investigated the effects of an eight-week outdoor nature play intervention on children aged 6–10 years (N = 80). Participants were randomly assigned to an outdoor nature play group (n = 40) or a control group engaging in non-nature-based play (n = 40). Physical activity was measured using accelerometers, cognitive performance was assessed with standardized executive function tasks, and emotional well-being was evaluated using validated parent-report questionnaires. Outcomes were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to examine group × time effects.
Results: Significant group × time interactions were observed for all outcomes. Children in the outdoor nature play group demonstrated greater increases in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity compared to controls (F(1,78) = 36.42, p < .001, η² = .32). Significant improvements were also found in cognitive performance (F(1,78) = 14.88, p < .001, η² = .16) and emotional well-being (F(1,78) = 22.15, p < .001, η² = .22). No significant changes were observed in the control group.
Conclusion: Outdoor nature play produces significant benefits for children’s physical activity, cognitive functioning, and emotional well-being. Integrating nature-based play into educational and community settings may support healthier and more balanced child development.