Let’s play. And play some adventure games! A new study shows that children who engaged in adventurous play showed lower signs of anxiety or depression. 

The study was conducted by the University of Exeter and published in Child Psychiatry and Human Development. The sample size was about 2,500 children aged between 5 and 11. It was found that children who played thrilling games built more resilience over time. 

“We are more concerned than ever about children’s mental health, and our findings highlight that we might be able to help protect children’s mental health by ensuring they have plentiful opportunities for adventurous play,” said researcher Helen Dodd from the University of Exeter. The research was conducted with two groups of parents in Northern Ireland and the UK. Parents completed questions about their child’s play, general mental health (pre-Covid), and mood during the first Covid-19 lockdown. 

The findings highlight the importance of ensuring that parks and natural playgrounds are crucial in contributing to a child’s sense of play and mental well-being. 

“This is really positive because play is free, instinctive, and rewarding for children, available to everyone, and doesn’t require special skills,” added Dodd.

Examples of activities your child can indulge in that are healthier than scrolling on Instagram:

• Camping 
• Swimming 
• Skateboarding or rollerskating
• Obstacle courses
• Trekking