Following International Day of Play, the advantages of outdoor play are being highlighted, including increased confidence, improved problem-solving skills, and more confident and safer decision-making.

Invercargill City Council Local Play Advocate Damien Puddle is encouraging children and families to embrace the outdoors and find opportunities to have fun in the city’s parks and natural spaces. “We have more than 150 parks, reserves and play spaces in Invercargill, including a dedicated Nature Play Area in Queens Park,” he said.

“The Nature Play Area is an organic playground, where kids are given the freedom to engage with nature in fun and creative ways.” Made from recycled logs and loose materials, such as mulch and sticks, the Nature Play Area is designed to encourage climbing, jumping and unstructured play.

“There is an element of risk, but it helps children develop confidence, problem-solving and safer decision-making,” Puddle said. “When we use specific, supportive language like ‘Is that log slippery?’ or ‘Do you have a good grip?’ we are helping our kids, rather than instilling fear in them.”

Children from Active Explorers Invercargill enjoyo the Nature Play Area at Queens Park. Photo: Supplied

Otatara School Deputy Principal, Carla Werder, formerly with Active Southland, was an advocate for the creation of the space, and said it was an invitation to children to take the lead and embrace imagination, curiosity, and creativity. “I’ve seen first-hand the benefits of children being in the bush and having permission to engage with the environment in a fun way.”

The Nature Play Area is bordered by footpaths, with surrounding plants forming additional shapes and spaces that can be incorporated into play. “The contained space is an environment where children can easily be supervised with some of the risks minimised, so it’s accessible for people who aren’t used to getting out into nature,” Werder said.

“We need to remove some of the barriers for whānau and schools that discourage them from enjoying the outdoors and facing that element of risk.” The Nature Play Area at Queens Park is free to use during the park’s opening hours, or can be reserved on Council’s booking website for events like birthday parties or school groups exploring nature as part of their curriculum. International Day of Play, established by the United Nations General Assembly, was celebrated on 11 June.

Werder said the theme for 2025 – Choose Play, Every Day – was a reminder to prioritise play all year round. “Every backyard, every tree and every bit of mud or puddle is a chance to play. Take the time to watch children and you’ll see that they spot the opportunities all around us.” You can find more information about Invercargill’s parks and reserves, including how to book the Queens Park Nature Play Area, on the Invercargill City Council website.