Adventure means something different to every child. For some, it’s climbing higher than they ever have before, racing down a slide or navigating an obstacle course. For others, it’s creating an imaginative world, making music or discovering a new way to engage with their surroundings.

Adventure gives children opportunities to explore what they’re capable of through movement, challenge and discovery. Children build confidence, develop resilience and learn how to navigate the world around them in a natural and child-directed way.

We asked Sarah Lisiecki, communications & education manager at BCI Burke, how adventure play supports healthy development and what communities should consider when creating outdoor spaces that inspire exploration.

What is adventure play and why is it important for children’s development?

Adventure play encourages children to try something new, challenge themselves and discover what they’re capable of. It’s an important part of how children learn about the world, understand their boundaries and develop resilience.

The best adventure play environments recognize that every child experiences adventure differently. A challenge for one child may be reaching the top of a climbing structure, while another child may find adventure through imaginative play, sensory exploration or creating a new game.

Thoughtful design creates opportunities for children of diverse ages, abilities and preferences to choose their own level of challenge. When children can explore in ways that feel exciting, achievable and rewarding, they build confidence in themselves and their abilities.

How does adventure play support healthy development?

Adventure play supports children’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional development by encouraging movement, exploration and connection. It also helps in ways that transcend the playground and extend into other areas of their lives.

It helps children manage emotions.

Active play gives children healthy ways to process emotions and engage their senses. Activities like climbing, sliding, swinging and spinning provide opportunities for movement while supporting balance, coordination and self-regulation.

When playgrounds provide inclusive design features such as accessible pathways, transfer and sliding opportunities and provide varied play experiences, more children can participate independently and experience the benefits of active play.

It creates moments of awe and discovery.

Research by psychologist Dacher Keltner suggests that awe can be cultivated through everyday experiences of discovery. Moments of awe are an important part of healthy child development because they encourage curiosity, creativity and exploration. Whether children are climbing to the top of a tree, taking in the view from a playground tower or discovering a new way to make music, these experiences inspire them to ask questions, explore possibilities and understand the world around them.

It builds confidence and resilience.

Every challenge a child chooses creates an opportunity for growth. Whether climbing to a new height, sliding down a slide, navigating a ninja-inspired obstacle course or imagining an expedition, children develop confidence by testing their abilities and celebrating their successes. Thoughtfully designed environments offer a range of challenge levels, allowing children of different ages, abilities and preferences to progress at their own pace. As they master new tasks and return to challenges that were, in the past, too difficult, they build perseverance, independence and the resilience to embrace what comes next. Adventure also extends beyond traditional playgrounds. Outdoor fitness courses create opportunities for children, teens and adults to move together and build healthy habits through intergenerational play and engagement.

It strengthens social skills.

Adventure is often shared and when children play together, they build friendships and social networks that are unique and important. They encourage each other through a climbing challenge, collaborate during imaginative play or work together through an obstacle course, creating opportunities for communication, cooperation and problem solving.

These shared experiences help children practice teamwork, create shared stories and learn the value of supporting a friend.

What should communities consider when designing adventurous outdoor spaces?

Communities should look for designs that balance challenge with accessibility and provide opportunities for movement, exploration, imagination and discovery for diverse ages, abilities and play styles. The goal is to create outdoor spaces where everyone can find their own way to participate while feeling comfortable in a space designed for them.

Adventure doesn’t look the same for every person. Intentionally designed outdoor environments recognize that and provide choices — opportunities to climb, explore, connect, create and discover at every age and stage of life.

When communities invest in thoughtfully designed adventure spaces, they create destinations that encourage people to get outside, build connections and experience the lasting benefits of movement and exploration.

Get all the benefits of outdoor adventure for your community. Contact your local Burke representative to get started.