Collocated interactive outdoor games for children: A systematic literature review

Outdoor play is an important component in the development of children and adolescents. Nevertheless, there is a growing trend towards replacing outdoor play with sedentary indoors activity, related to media consumption and computer games. Researchers in child computer interaction and related fields have been developing games that can be played outside, encouraging physical activity and social interaction. This article reviews this niche but substantial body of work, aiming to provide an overview of these games, the evidence provided regarding the benefits they claim to provide and related methodological issues. The paper takes a critical reflection on the role of technology in outdoor play and suggests areas for future research, including the learning and developmental benefits that these games can provide to children in the long term.