Let Them Lead: The Magic of Outdoor Play and a Leafy Pizza Shop

This week, we were gifted with something simple but priceless. Warm, sunny days after weeks of cold. Just like that, the front porch of our daycare turned into something completely unexpected… a bustling little pizza shop! No adult direction, no structured activity, just pure child-led play. With nothing more than leaves, pinecones, sticks, and their brilliant imaginations, the kids took orders, made “pizzas,” and proudly served them up with the biggest smiles. It’s moments like these that remind me why outdoor play is so vital, especially for young children.

The Importance of Outdoor Play

When kids are outside, they aren’t just getting fresh air and exercise (though those are wonderful perks!). They’re engaging every sense, using their whole bodies, and fueling their creativity in ways that simply don’t happen indoors.

In his powerful book The Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv writes, “Playtime — especially unstructured, imaginative, exploratory play — is increasingly recognized as an essential component of wholesome child development.” He even coined the term “nature-deficit disorder” to describe how modern kids are growing up disconnected from nature, leading to increased anxiety, attention issues, and a lack of creativity.

Outdoors, kids aren’t bound by walls, furniture, or toys with specific purposes. A stick becomes a wand, a phone, or a fishing pole. A pile of leaves? A pizza topping, obviously!

The Benefits of Letting Kids Lead

In Balanced and Barefoot, pediatric occupational therapist Angela Hanscom shares, “The more risks you allow children to take, the better they learn to take care of themselves.” When we allow children freedom to explore, play, and lead their own adventures outside, we’re giving them far more than entertainment! We’re offering them the tools for confidence, resilience, and self-regulation.

I’ve seen it firsthand: when toddlers lead the way, they notice everything. Every crack in the sidewalk, every pinecone, every ladybug. Their sense of wonder is unmatched. They don’t rush past life; they stop and savor it. On Wednesday during our walk, the kids suddenly stopped in their tracks, completely captivated by one section of the sidewalk that had a ton of stones sealed in with the cement. They shimmered in the sunlight, something I might have walked right past, but they couldn’t help but pause, marvel, and carefully inspect every sparkling detail. And as adults, we get to slow down and join them in seeing all those little glimmers we might otherwise miss. This is probably my favorite part of working with young children.

The Takeaway

If you ever feel like life’s moving too fast, or you’re caught up in the day-to-day chaos, spend an afternoon outside with a toddler. Leave your agenda behind. Let them show you how magical a pile of sticks can be or how exciting it is to turn leaves into pizza. Resist the urge to direct their experience, and allow them to show you how magical the world is.

The outdoors isn’t just a backdrop, it’s a playground, a classroom, and a place for endless possibilities.

So here’s to warm days, messy play, leafy pizzas, and letting the littlest ones lead the way.

Warmly,

Ms Sarah

May the world be filled with beautiful, peaceful little children.

Book Wishlist

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/33APNRBIR7BTX?ref_=wl_share

Supplies Wishlist

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Further Reading:

• The Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv

• Balanced and Barefoot by Angela Hanscom