Outdoor Safety Tips for Children

Why It’s Important for Children to Play Outside

Outdoor play is essential for healthy development, yet it competes with very high daily screen use. U.S. teens average about 4.8 hours/day on social media, and total entertainment screen media (excluding schoolwork) is roughly nine hours/day for teens and about six hours/day for tweens. Nearly half of U.S. high school students report 3+ hours/day of recreational screen time on school days. While youth outdoor participation has rebounded since the pandemic, it varies by family and season and does not fully offset increased screen exposure (Outdoor Foundation 2024). Longstanding concerns about a disconnect from nature remain relevant.

Outdoor play supports attention, working memory, and behavior through physical activity and contact with nature. Beyond individual studies of green play and cognition (attention/memory in natural settings; green space and ADHD-related symptoms), major reviews conclude that physical activity and access to green environments improve cognition and on-task behavior in youth (CDC; HHS Midcourse Report; WHO Europe). These benefits also extend to mental well-being and stress reduction, and regular activity supports better sleep—key outcomes that families increasingly value.

Parents widely endorse outdoor time and unstructured play, yet they juggle safety concerns alongside rising worries about screens and youth mental health (Pew; Common Sense Media). Framing outdoor play as a daily counterweight to screen time—and planning around environmental conditions—helps families protect both safety and well-being.

Simple planning tools make outdoor time safer and more predictable: check HeatRisk for heat, follow EPA’s AQI activity guidance for air quality and wildfire smoke, and use lightning safety rules. With these in mind, families can build dependable outdoor routines that support attention, behavior, mental health, and sleep (CDC; WHO Europe).

Potential Outdoor Risks to Remember

It’s normal to worry about safety, and today’s outdoor time can be affected by traffic, falls, water, weather, air quality, and newer trends like micromobility (e-bikes/e-scooters). Recognizing specific risks lets you take targeted steps—so children keep the developmental gains of outdoor play while you reduce the chance of serious harm.

Unintentional injuries are the most common cause of hospital visits among young children. Around water, apply CDC’s “layers of protection”—close, constant supervision; four-sided fencing; U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jackets; swim lessons; and CPR readiness—because drowning remains a leading cause of child death (CDC: leading for ages 1–4; second leading for 5–14).

• Roadways and highways: Neighborhood play often intersects with vehicle traffic, and drivers today are more distracted than ever. Pedestrian crashes are more likely in urban areas, at non‑intersections, and at night, and recent analyses indicate U.S. pedestrian fatalities remain near modern highs (GHSA). Teach kids to cross with adults, use marked crossings, and wear bright/reflective gear; supervise young children near driveways and set a “home by dark” rule.
• Falls and injuries: Outdoor play can bring physical injury risks, especially on wheeled toys and bikes. Require properly fitted helmets that meet the U.S. CPSC standard (check the label) and add wrist, knee, and elbow protection as needed (NHTSA helmet guidance). Be extra cautious with e-bikes/e‑scooters: injuries and deaths involving micromobility devices have surged, so follow local age laws and manufacturer size/age guidance, require helmets, limit speed, and ride only where allowed (CPSC advisory).
• Outdoor spaces: Scan for potential safety hazards—open water, animals, chemicals, insects/reptiles, construction areas, and attractive nuisances like trampolines and tree houses. Near any water, use “layers of protection” and ensure pools have four‑sided, self‑closing, self‑latching fencing with locked gates (CDC).
• Stranger danger: Teaching about “stranger danger” is helpful, but add practical layers: active supervision for younger kids, a buddy system for older children, and clear check‑in times. Technology (cameras, kid wearables, family location apps) can support supervision when used thoughtfully and with privacy in mind.
• Protection from the elements: Plan for heat, air quality, sun, and insects. Modify or reschedule vigorous outdoor play at AQI ≥100 (especially for young or asthmatic children) and move activities indoors at AQI ≥151; follow HeatRisk guidance to shorten sessions, add shade and breaks, or postpone during orange/red levels; and at first thunder, go indoors and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder (NWS). Use EPA‑registered repellents and perform tick checks after grassy/wooded play; avoid oil of lemon eucalyptus/PMD in children under 3 (CDC tick guidance).

Limiting Risks Without Restricting Outdoor Play

Children need challenge to learn. Rather than eliminating all risk, aim for play spaces that are “as safe as necessary” (not “as safe as possible”) so kids can practice judgment and self‑regulation while you manage serious hazards (risk–benefit approach). Pair this with daily outdoor time that supports cognition, behavior, and mental health (CDC; HHS).

Create a safe place to play

Define a child-friendly outdoor zone you can see and manage. Set clear boundaries together to build independence and buy‑in, then reduce known hazards in advance. Consider traffic exposure, surfaces, shade, and access to water and bathrooms. If there’s a pool or nearby open water, use four‑sided barriers and locked gates, and designate a “water watcher” during use (CDC). Some additional steps:

• Educate your child. Practice safe street‑crossing, visibility (bright/reflective clothing, lights at dusk), and where play is allowed. Explain that pedestrian risks are higher at night and away from intersections; emphasize crossing with an adult until they’re ready (CDC; GHSA).
• Set up signs. Post “children at play” and speed‑reminder signs at driveways/curb edges where allowed. Position toys away from parked cars and driveways to avoid back‑over risks.
• Identify potential hazards. Walk the area to remove sharp objects, secure chemicals, check equipment stability, and clear climbing zones. Manage attractive nuisances (trampolines, tree houses) with rules and supervision; add surfacing where falls are possible.
• Utilize fencing. Use fences or natural barriers to keep young children within sight. Around pools, install four‑sided, self‑closing, self‑latching fencing and keep gates locked; add door/window alarms where appropriate (CDC).

Monitor outdoor spaces

Use simple tools to extend supervision without hovering. Combine direct monitoring (eyes on, video where appropriate) with predictable check‑ins. For location sharing, prefer purpose‑built family tools and kids’ LTE wearables over item trackers, which are for belongings and trigger anti‑stalking alerts.

• Install security cameras. Use outdoor home security cameras to see a live feed of your yard and monitor children as they play. These cameras can send a live feed to your phone or computer around the clock, which can give parents more control over spotting potential dangers before they become threats. This concept is especially helpful if you are working from home or need to do other things inside, but want to allow children to play outdoors.
• Set check-in timers. Set reminders to check on your children at regular intervals using your smartphone or devices like Alexa. You can also give children their own device with an alarm or reminder to come and check in with you at regular intervals. That way, you’ll never go for too long without setting eyes on your child.
• Monitor with apps. Install smartphone apps or purchase devices that allow you to track your teen’s whereabouts while they are outside. The FamiSafe app has a GPS tracker for your child’s smartphone to monitor their physical location (and location history so you don’t have to stare at a dot on a map all day), as well as the ability to block dangerous apps on their phone. For younger children, the Xplora 2 watch provides GPS tracking without a smartphone. There are many devices available today suitable for teens and young children to help you monitor their whereabouts when you can’t be with them. Also consider platform options like setting up an Apple Watch for a child (Family Setup), using Google Family Link, or choosing kid LTE wearables such as Fitbit Ace LTE or Garmin Bounce, and cross‑platform family apps like Life360. Avoid Bluetooth item trackers for children—they’re intended for belongings and now trigger unknown‑tracker alerts on Apple and Android devices.
• Use a “buddy system.” Pair your child with a sibling or someone else in the neighborhood to help you monitor your child, and to ensure they are never alone when outside exploring — especially when beyond your property line.

Protection for your child

Kids will get bumps and scrapes. Reduce the risk of serious injury with the right gear, environment checks, and weather-aware plans.

• Dress for the outdoors. Choose closed‑toe shoes with good traction and weather‑appropriate, sun‑protective clothing (hats, long sleeves when feasible). Pack a spare layer for changing conditions.
• Wear proper equipment. Outdoor play often means sports and games that may require special safety equipment, such as helmets, wrist guards, and knee and elbow pads. Make sure you have the proper equipment on hand, that it’s in good working condition, and that your child wears or uses it as needed. For bikes, scooters, and e‑bikes/e‑scooters, select helmets that state they meet CPSC standards and fit them correctly (NHTSA guidance).
• Check the weather. Before encouraging your child to head outdoors for a long day of play, check the local weather report for extreme heat, rain, thunderstorms, and other dangers. If you know there is likely to be dangerous weather, modify your activities and bring children to an indoor play area instead. Use HeatRisk to shorten sessions, add shade and breaks, and reschedule high‑exertion play during orange/red levels; follow the EPA’s AQI school activity guide to reduce intensity at AQI ≥100 and move activities indoors at AQI ≥151; and follow lightning safety rules (indoors at first thunder; 30‑minute wait after the last thunder).
• Offer plenty of fluids. Ensure frequent water access and scheduled hydration breaks, especially in heat; add cool‑down rests in the shade.
• Apply sunscreen and insect repellent. Apply sunscreen that’s at least 15 SPF before your child heads outside. If they’ll be in an area that’s buggy, apply insect repellent after applying the sunscreen. Reapply at regular intervals to avoid sunburns and bug bites.  For ticks, use EPA‑registered repellents as labeled, avoid oil of lemon eucalyptus/PMD in children under 3, consider permethrin‑treated clothing, and perform tick checks after play (CDC guidance).
• Identify and manage allergies. Keep needed medications handy for pollen or stinging‑insect allergies. Pollen seasons are lengthening in many regions, increasing symptom days for sensitive children (EPA indicator).
• Establish an injury plan. Set a simple protocol for where to go and whom to call if someone gets hurt. Keep a stocked first‑aid kit and emergency contacts accessible.
• Discuss “stranger danger.” Remind children to avoid talking to unknown adults, stick to agreed‑upon play areas, and seek help from trusted adults if they feel unsafe. Practice what to do and where to go.

Talking to Your Child About Safety

Keep messages clear, calm, and actionable. Young children interpret risk differently than adults, so use simple rules and practice them: cross with an adult, stay inside boundaries, check in on a timer, and come in at the first sound of thunder. Explain environmental rules using easy cues (e.g., “orange HeatRisk means we take more shade breaks,” “AQI over 100 means we play easier or go inside”). These routines protect safety while preserving the benefits of outdoor time for attention, mental health, and sleep (CDC; WHO Europe).

Let children ask questions, respond in short, memorable steps, and revisit plans regularly. Normalize safety talk by comparing it to seat belts or bike helmets and by practicing “what if” scenarios together.

The Bottom Line

Daily outdoor play delivers measurable gains for cognition, behavior, mental health, and sleep, especially in green spaces (CDC; HHS; WHO Europe). You can preserve those benefits by planning around traffic and environmental risks: use helmets and life jackets where appropriate; apply drowning “layers of protection”; check HeatRisk, AQI, and lightning; and favor shade and hydration. In a warming world—2024 was the warmest year on record—these habits keep outdoor time safe and sustainable.

There are also plenty of resources for parents to turn to for help keeping their kids safe while they play outside in both structured and unstructured environments. Here are a few:

• Go Out and Play Kit from the CDC — Pair with physical activity basics for kids and school strategies from HHS’s Midcourse Report.
• Home security systems to monitor kids outside — supplement with kid wearables (e.g., Apple Watch Family Setup, Google Family Link, Fitbit Ace LTE, Garmin Bounce).
• Backyard safety tips from Safewise — also check daily HeatRisk and AQI activity guidance for outdoor decisions.
• Playground safety tips from KidsHealth — for bikes and scooters, see NHTSA helmet guidance.
• Expert safety advice on outdoor play from NPR — and the EPA’s child-focused wildfire smoke tips: Protecting Children from Wildfire Smoke.