CHILDREN must be encouraged to "build dens and climb trees" as part of a healthy growing up process, according to a new campaign promoting the benefits of outdoor play.

The year-long 'Away and Play' drive will highlight how unstructured play promotes youngsters' health and teaches them about risk-taking, creative thinking and team-work.

A letter signed by leaders of Scotland's health, education and natural heritage bodies, backing the campaign, states: “If we are to grow and develop as a healthy and happy society, as well nurture the next generation of creative and innovative thinkers that will power our economy in the future, it is vital that children are encouraged to play outside – to build dens, to climb trees, to be free to turn a stick in to a magic wand and create their own world to play in.”

The 'Away and Play' initiative is led by the charity, Inspiring Scotland, which aims to tackle some of Scotland’s toughest, long-term social problems. The charity cites global studies which provide evidence that play helps children as they grow up and can lead to more innovative, creative and caring societies in the future.

Celia Tennant, chief executive of Inspiring Scotland, said: “Children thrive on play. Active, child-led play allows children to use their imagination and creativity where they develop their own games and imaginary scenarios. Play creates a realm of dragons and superheroes where everything is possible, a place where a stick becomes a wand and a puddle can be the ocean.

“When encouraged to be creative in play, children gain the confidence to develop and express their own ideas and thoughts. Learning to use their imagination and think creatively exercises the mind and boosts children’s ability to learn and understand complex concepts.

“We believe that the creativity and mental flexibility that play engenders is vital to ensuring we have the innovative thinkers we will need in the future. Furthermore, playing in a way that is physically active is proven to stimulate mental alertness and helps children to focus and learn in educational environments. In short, playing is good for the brain.”

Research published in the academic journal Early Education and Development is part of a growing body of research on the subject. This has shown that children with higher levels of active outdoor play had improved cognition which resulted in better academic performance in reading and mathematics.

Marguerite Hunter Blair, chief executive of Play Scotland, added: “We know that play is fundamental in optimising children’s development, and to the promotion of resilience. The key characteristics of play are fun, uncertainty, challenge, flexibility and non-productivity, and all children benefit from some degree of risk and challenge in their outdoor play. We need to maximise the range of play opportunities in our communities for everyone’s benefit.”

Inspiring Scotland currently works with primary schools in Glasgow, in partnership with Glasgow City Council, through which class teachers have reported greater alertness and focus from children following active outdoor play sessions.

The new campaign will also work with partners in the heritage, history and archaeological sectors to give parents ideas for year-round, all-weather outdoor play in Scotland.