At Nord Anglia International School New York, our students get outdoor breaks every day. From the age of two, every child has green space built into their daily routine. In the middle of one of the world's most exciting cities, that is something we genuinely value, and something we think about carefully.
There is something that happens to children when they get outside that simply cannot be replicated indoors. They move differently, talk differently, take up more space. UNICEF notes that research consistently shows outdoor play is crucial for a child's physical and emotional health, alongside improved learning outcomes, and that evidence has only grown stronger in recent years.
The physical benefits are the most obvious. Running, climbing, jumping and generally being boisterous builds cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength and large motor skills. But the benefits run deeper than that, and they start earlier than most people realise. Even the process of getting outside is educational. Putting on layers in winter or applying sunscreen in summer are small lessons in themselves, building healthy habits and fine motor skills along the way.
It is easy, particularly in a city like New York, to fill a child's day with organized activities, clubs and screen time. All of those things have their place. But unstructured outdoor play, where children set the agenda, choose the game and work things out for themselves, develops something different. Exposure to natural light helps regulate sleep and lowers cortisol levels, meaning children who spend time outside regularly tend to be calmer, more focused and better rested. That is a win for children and parents alike.
Outdoor play gives children the chance to be social on their own terms. They negotiate, collaborate, fall out and make up. They decide who does what, how the rules work and what happens when someone breaks them. They practice the kind of communication that no worksheet can teach, and they do it in a context that actually means something to them.For younger children especially, this kind of play is foundational. The friendships formed outside, through shared adventures and negotiated games, are often the ones that last.
Outside, children naturally push themselves a little further than they might indoors. Climbing a little higher, trying something new, figuring out why something is not working and trying again. These are small moments, but they are where resilience is built.We want our students to develop a genuine sense of what they are capable of. That means giving them the space to try things, get things wrong and keep going. The outdoors, more than almost any other environment, is where that happens naturally.
For families raising children in New York City, access to green space is not always guaranteed. Research consistently shows that time outdoors supports children's focus, emotional wellbeing and stress levels. Regular access to parks and natural environments makes a real difference, particularly for children growing up in urban settings where the pace of life is fast and the spaces are dense.
Madison Square Park is right on our doorstep, and visits there are part of how we think about a well-rounded school day at NAISNY. Watching a child run freely through open space, notice a bird, pick up a leaf or simply breathe a little differently, is a reminder of how much children need this, and how much they thrive when they get it.
It is one of the reasons we believe a Nord Anglia education in New York City is something genuinely special. And we are always looking at ways to give our students more of it.
