Why Your Kid Needs to Play With Big Kids and Littles Outside
Why do we keep kids in the same-age groups when life is filled with relationships across all ages?
Think about it - siblings, friends, coworkers…in the real world, we learn from people older and younger than us every day.
Here’s 5 reasons why your kid needs to play with big and little kids outside:
Older kids become natural leaders. They teach, guide, and help younger ones - boosting their own confidence and social skills without even realizing it.
Younger kids soak it all in. Watching older kids play gives them new ideas, challenges, ways to push their boundaries. They learn faster and take bigger leaps when the big kids are around!
It’s teamwork in action. Mixed ages = fewer conflicts and more cooperation. My kids bicker a lot less when they’re with a group of kids are varying ages. Kids are less competitive and more focused on playing together.
It builds patience and empathy. Kids learn to respect each other strengths, whether that’s waiting for a little one to catch up or let an older kid take the lead.
It mimics real life. In the world outside of school, we don’t live, work, or grow in same-age bubbles. Mixed-age play helps prepare kids for the real world relationships they’ll navigate later.
Mixed-age play doesn’t just benefit younger kids - it helps older ones grow too. So, why not let them learn from each other now?
