Children's Mental Health Week: Benefits of Outdoor Play

Children’s Mental Health Week 2025: Know Yourself, Grow Yourself

Children’s Mental Health Week is taking place from 3rd to 9th February 2025, focusing on this year’s theme, ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself’. Created by Place2Be, this initiative exists to empower, equip, and give a voice to all children and young people across the UK.

What is Children's Mental Health Week?

Children’s Mental Health Week is an annual mental health awareness campaign, first launched in 2015 by the children’s mental health charity Place2Be. 

This year’s theme, ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself’, encourages children and young people to embrace self-awareness and explore what it means to them. The more we understand about ourselves, the better we can build resilience and develop the skills needed to handle life’s ups and downs.

To bring this theme to life, Place2Be has partnered with Here4You, supported by The Walt Disney Company and the Inside Out 2 characters. These resources use familiar and engaging storytelling to help children understand and express their emotions, which is a vital part of developing self-awareness and resilience.

The Outdoors Project and Children's Mental Health

At The Outdoors Project, we see every day how outdoor play supports children’s mental health. Being in nature, moving, and playing freely all contribute to emotional resilience, cognitive development, and overall happiness. Some of the key benefits of time spent outdoors include:

• Building Confidence – Outdoor play allows children to take risks, make decisions, and navigate new challenges independently.
• Boosting Creativity and Imagination – Nature provides an open-ended environment that inspires creative thinking and problem-solving.
• Encouraging Environmental Awareness – First-hand experiences with nature help children develop an appreciation for the environment, laying the foundation for lifelong stewardship.
• Enhancing Physical and Mental Health – Regular activity outdoors improves fitness, sleep, focus, and emotional well-being.
• Reducing Stress and Anxiety – Exposure to nature has been shown to lower stress levels, improve mood, and promote relaxation.

Children’s Mental Health Week is an important reminder that mental health matters. Schools, families, and communities all play a role in ensuring children feel supported. Encouraging outdoor play and movement is just one of the many ways we can help children develop stronger emotional and mental well-being.

How to Get Involved

There are many ways to take part in Children’s Mental Health Week 2025, whether in schools, youth groups, or at home.

Find out more: www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk
Support the cause: Donate or fundraise here

Let’s keep kids active, happy, and connected to nature—because a little dirt never hurt!