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Children who visit parks and playgrounds at least once a week may have better mental health and social development as they grow up. That's according to a new study by the University of Exeter, published in Epidemiology and Community Health. The paper is titled "Park Visits and Social-Emotional Development throughout Childhood: A Longitudinal Analysis of ALSPAC."

The research looked at children aged between 4 and 11, using data from the Children of the 90s study—which follows the same children over many years and helps researchers see how changes in their lives relate to their later health.

Researchers found children who were taken to the park at least once a week from birth to 11 years old scored, on average, 16.5% better on their mental health assessments compared to those who visited less than once a week over the same period. The study also considered and controlled for confounding factors such as socioeconomic status and family adversity.

Lead researcher Mark Ferguson of the University of Exeter said, "Our research suggests encouraging children to visit parks and playgrounds at least once a week could be a practical way to support their emotional well-being, social skills and mental health. But for this to work fairly, communities need good-quality parks that are safe, accessible and welcoming to families from all backgrounds.

"Parks give children space to be physically active , which is known to support mental and physical health, as well as helping adventurous and imaginative play to build confidence and independence.

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