<![CDATA[Purpose of the study: This systematic literature review examines the relationship between outdoor play and motor skill development in children aged 2-8 years, synthesizing empirical evidence to understand the mechanisms, contexts, and outcomes of outdoor play interventions on gross and fine motor competencies. Materials and methods: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted across five electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ERIC, and SPORTDiscus) from January 2010 to December 2024. Studies were included if they: (1) involved children aged 2-8 years, (2) examined outdoor play interventions or exposure, (3) measured motor skill outcomes using validated instruments, and (4) employed experimental, quasi-experimental, or longitudinal observational designs. Two independent reviewers screened 3,847 records, assessed 156 full-text articles for eligibility, and included 43 studies in the final synthesis. Data extraction encompassed study characteristics, participant demographics, outdoor play parameters, motor skill assessments, and outcome measures. Quality appraisal utilized the Downs and Black checklist for intervention studies and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies. Results: The 43 included studies (N = 12,847 children) demonstrated predominantly positive associations between outdoor play and motor skill development. Structured outdoor play interventions (n = 28 studies) resulted in significant improvements in object control skills (Cohen's d = 0.67, 95% CI [0.52, 0.82]) and locomotor skills (Cohen's d = 0.59, 95% CI [0.45, 0.73]). Unstructured free play in natural environments (n = 15 studies) was associated with enhanced motor creativity and adaptive movement patterns. Dose-response analyses indicated optimal benefits with 60-90 minutes of daily outdoor play exposure. Effect sizes were moderated by play environment quality (β = 0.34, p < .001), adult facilitation (β = 0.28, p = .003), and baseline motor competence (β = -0.22, p = .012). Conclusions: This systematic review provides robust evidence that outdoor play significantly enhances motor skill development in early childhood. Structured outdoor interventions yielded larger effect sizes for specific motor competencies, while unstructured nature-based play contributed to motor creativity and exploratory movement behaviors. Policy implications support the integration of daily outdoor play opportunities in early childhood education settings and the development of accessible, well-designed outdoor play spaces. Future research should employ standardized motor assessment protocols and examine longitudinal trajectories of motor development in relation to outdoor play patterns.]]>
