By: Jenna R. Thompson
Updated: Feb. 13, 2018
Originally Published: Feb. 11, 2018
“Get outside and play! Connect with nature! Leave this house!” For nearly two decades, I’ve found myself repeating these phrases to my children, often with increasing urgency. There’s an inherent unnaturalness in keeping energetic little bodies confined within the confines of home. Yet, it’s a reality for many children in our country, even those engaged in outdoor sports — who might be fortunate enough to enjoy a mere 15 minutes of recess a few times a week. The result? A generation that spends more time indoors than ever before.
It’s not just kids who are affected. Parents, too, are glued to screens for hours, catching fleeting glimpses of blue skies through car windows and only breathing fresh air in parking lots while hauling kids in and out of stores. This lifestyle may contribute to the rising levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among families.
However, not everywhere shares this indoor-centric lifestyle. My own insistence that my kids “go outside and connect with nature” was a subconscious nod to a cherished Scandinavian parenting philosophy known as friluftsliv (pronounced FREE-loofts-leav). Emerging in Scandinavia post-WWII, friluftsliv embodies a longing for the great outdoors as people sought to escape the pressures of urban life.
This concept, which translates to “free-air life,” has woven itself into the fabric of Scandinavian culture, particularly in child-rearing. Today, it’s commonplace to witness Swedes, Danes, and Norwegians biking to work and taking lunchtime hikes, while preschoolers play outside in conditions that might make a polar bear shudder. A well-known Swedish adage states, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” This deep appreciation for the outdoors correlates with healthier, happier lives.
Why Nature Matters
But what makes nature such a balm for our souls? Linda Frost, the author of The Outdoor Child: A Guide to Raising Happy, Resilient Kids, sheds light on this phenomenon: “Our biological clocks are in sync with nature’s rhythms, which are often disrupted by modern lifestyles.” Simply put, humans are not designed to spend all day confined indoors, staring at screens.
Frost elaborates on the emotional advantages that families, especially children, gain from embracing the friluftsliv way of life. Unfortunately, American children have fewer opportunities for unstructured outdoor play, as their time outside is often limited by school policies and competitive sports, which can stifle the essence of friluftsliv.
For children to truly benefit from this lifestyle—such as experiencing heightened self-esteem, curiosity, and creativity—they need unstructured time outdoors, without adult oversight. The Swedish government even differentiates friluftsliv from competitive sports, defining it as “spending time outdoors to enjoy nature without the pressures of competition.”
Overcoming Fears
Regrettably, in the United States, parents often hesitate to let their children play outside due to unfounded fears—concerns about judgment from neighbors or safety hazards. Frost encourages parents to relax these fears for the sake of their children’s resilience. “Children playing in nature tend to be calm yet alert. Statistically, it’s not riskier now than it has been in the past; we simply hear more about unfortunate incidents,” she explains.
Our children, confined like caged birds, are suffering, and this confinement affects parents too. Nature beckons us to step outside, yet school and work commitments often obstruct this connection. Frost emphasizes the need for proactive approaches to advocate for outdoor play, suggesting that parents, teachers, and caregivers must recognize and promote the benefits of time spent in nature.
Advocating for Change
For meaningful change to occur, it’s crucial that these stakeholders advocate for better policies regarding public green spaces and preschool regulations. Time spent in nature should be an inherent aspect of life, not a luxury we have to plead for. So, the next time you find yourself urging your child to “go outside and play!”, celebrate that instinct; it’s not a parenting flaw but rather an embodiment of friluftsliv—a philosophy rooted in freedom and connection to the natural world. Thank you, Scandinavia.
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Summary
Friluftsliv, a Scandinavian concept meaning “free-air life,” emphasizes the importance of outdoor play and connection with nature, which has profound psychological benefits for children and families. This philosophy encourages unstructured outdoor time to foster resilience, creativity, and well-being, contrasting with the indoor-centric lifestyle prevalent in many American households today.