Let’s Go Outside Because We Can

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Let’s Go Outside Because We Can

At Able Canopies, we believe that access to safe, engaging outdoor environments isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. And when it comes to supporting the health, happiness, and development of children, the simple act of spending time outside can have life-changing benefits. It’s time we embraced the idea: Let’s Go Outside Because We Can.

Why Outdoor Time Matters

Spending time outdoors plays a vital role in children’s physical and mental well-being. Unfortunately, modern lifestyles often limit those opportunities. A report from The Children’s Society highlights how today’s children are facing increasing levels of unhappiness—and a major contributing factor is the lack of freedom to play outside.

The statistics are eye-opening:

A Guardian survey revealed that 64% of children only play outside once a week.
28% haven’t been on a country walk in the past year.
Some children even believe that conkers grow on oak trees and that cows hibernate—a clear sign of disconnection from nature.

It’s not just about knowledge—it’s about well-being. Research from the University of Essex found that just five minutes of outdoor play in a green space can reduce the risk of obesity and significantly improve mental health, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.

The Educational Advantage

Outdoor play isn’t only beneficial for physical and mental health—it supports learning, too.

Unstructured outdoor activity encourages:

Problem-solving skills
Focus and self-discipline
Social development

Children who regularly spend time outside are more likely to communicate effectively, cooperate with peers, and show reduced behavioural issues in classroom settings. Simply put, outdoor learning builds more confident, engaged learners.

Changing Attitudes: Are Adults Holding Children Back?

Parental concerns around safety have increased over the past few decades—and while well-intentioned, this cautious approach is limiting valuable play opportunities. Since the 1970s, the average distance a child roams from their home has shrunk by 90%.

Surprisingly, 43% of adults believe children shouldn’t play outdoors unsupervised until age 14—even in secure spaces like gardens. And yet, statistics show that more children are injured falling out of bed than from climbing trees. Alarmingly, 1 in 5 children under 12 have never climbed a tree at all.

Creating Safe Outdoor Spaces

We understand the importance of safety, which is why Able Canopies designs secure, sheltered outdoor environments that encourage healthy, open-air experiences—whatever the weather. By creating designated outdoor areas such as covered playgrounds, secure gardens, or all-weather school canopies, schools and nurseries can give children the freedom to explore safely.

Let’s go outside because we can. With the right environment, we can reconnect children with nature, reduce screen time, improve educational outcomes, and nurture happier, healthier futures.

Ready to Support Outdoor Learning?

Download our free brochure to get the most out of your canopy for outdoor play and learning:

Able Canopies Ltd. design, manufacture and install canopies and shade structures at schools, nurseries and educational settings to enable year-round Free Flow Outdoor Play and Outdoor Learning.
For more information please contact us

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