“The water truck! The water truck!” Saša shouts from the gate.
Within moments, we’re all together. We strip down to our underwear. We jump over the fence and run toward the corner. Judging by the sound, it’s coming from Smederevska Street. We hop from one foot to the other, partly because of the scorching hot pavement, partly because we can’t wait.
There it is! Charge!
We race down Čarli Čaplina Street, screaming and splashing the cold water onto our bare stomachs. The neighbors cross themselves, passersby stare in amazement, and the city sanitation truck driver tries to escape. He quickly turns into Ljube Stojanovića Street, then Jaše Prodanovića Street. We run back through Stojana Novakovića Street, reach the little park, and near the pavilion we run straight into the water truck. We jump, laugh, and scream with joy as the icy water sprays over us.
Run! Scatter! You little rascals! the driver waves us away.
We simply continue our adventure…
From “After the Sun Comes the Rain” by Jasminka Petrović
That was how things used to be. Today, unfortunately, children do not spend enough time outdoors. There is no doubt that today’s children would love to experience an adventure similar to the one our renowned author described while writing about her childhood in Belgrade during the 1960s.
Unfortunately, today’s world—and the very real concerns surrounding children’s safety—make such an adventure seem almost fictional and far removed from reality.
Even so, it is important to emphasize just how valuable it is for children to spend time outdoors, playing, exploring, and learning in nature.
When they are outside, children are naturally more physically active, giving them the opportunity to develop and strengthen all of their motor skills.
Time spent playing in nature also nurtures creativity. Children often have to invent their own games, using their imagination to decide what to play with and how to play.
Outdoor activities also support the development of both intellectual and social skills. Even familiar outdoor spaces are constantly changing and filled with new discoveries, providing valuable cognitive stimulation. When children play together, they learn to cooperate, communicate, solve problems, and adapt to one another.
Children who spend more time outdoors tend to sleep better, eat better, and maintain healthier vitamin D levels. They experience less stress, enjoy a better mood, and naturally spend less time in front of screens—a benefit that is valuable in itself.
Nature also teaches children to understand and appreciate the world around them. Direct contact with plants, animals, and natural environments is an unforgettable experience, especially for children growing up in urban settings.
Finally, outdoor activities encourage independence and help children develop confidence in making their own decisions, strengthening their self-esteem along the way.
Times have changed, and the level of freedom described at the beginning of this story is no longer possible. But other opportunities still exist.
Perhaps there is a wonderful school with a spacious, sunny playground full of greenery and room to play and discover something new.
Perhaps someone has a weekend cottage on Mount Kosmaj, where the garden offers even greater opportunities for exploration.
Perhaps Tašmajdan Park still has a hidden corner waiting to become the setting for a small adventure.
Perhaps an older brother can take his younger sibling to Great War Island to observe rare birds.
Perhaps an entire family can walk through the forest to the Monument to the Unknown Hero while talking about Serbia’s rich history.
Perhaps we adults simply need to be more creative than ever before in finding ways for our children to spend more time outdoors.
Our task is to make adventure safe—while ensuring that it remains an adventure: something unexpected, something exciting, and something our children will remember for the rest of their lives.