Science says that our environment can affect our mental health. In one study[1], researchers looked at nearly one million residents to see if their exposure to green spaces from birth to age 10 would affect their psychological well-being later in life.
The study found that in later years, children who had grown up near green spaces had fewer psychological problems than those who had not. These children were less likely to have episodes of depression, mood disorders, eating disorders, and other psychiatric problems such as schizophrenia.
In a separate study[2], researchers examined 47 children between the ages of 10 and 12 to see if they responded differently depending on whether they were in a classroom or a natural environment. Although more research is needed, the researchers found that natural environments reduced stress in the children.
In yet another study[3], researchers found that exposure to green spaces increased well-being in children and reduced depressive symptoms in adolescents and young adults.
While many of the scientific studies available today have focused more on young adults and adults, a growing number of researchers are now saying that ensuring children have access to green spaces helps increase their well-being and reduce anxiety.
Many of these studies agree that early exposure to nature has a positive impact on children’s later outcomes.
The good news is that it is possible to ensure that your child has access to green spaces, whether they grow up in an urban or less urban environment.
Here are five simple things you can do to ensure your child has regular interactions with nature.
5 easy ways to use nature to reduce your child’s anxiety
1) Viewing nature scenes is a simple and effective strategy that can help reduce your child’s stress and anxiety levels. Research has shown that not only do indoor plants improve air quality, but they can also have a positive effect on stress and anxiety levels.
In other words, houseplants are an easy way to connect with nature. Researchers at the University of Reading wanted to see if certain plants were more calming than others. Their study[4] found that three plants in particular – pothos, weeping fig, and palm – seemed to provide the greatest sense of well-being.
Overall, their study suggests that to get the best results from indoor plants, it is important to
– Choose plants with lush green foliage, rounded leaves and/or dense canopies.
– Consider plants associated with happy memories (such as vacations or tropical destinations).
– Avoid plants that evoke danger, such as those with spikes.
– Choose plants that attract attention, or group different plants and colors together to attract more attention. The more attractive the plant (appearance, health, beauty), the greater the benefits.
– Avoid plants that require too much care.
2) Limit your child’s exposure to computer screens. Children are spending more time indoors than ever before, and this is affecting their mental health and overall well-being. Screens have been identified as one of the main reasons children are keeping indoors.
While the number of hours children should be allowed to use screens is still a matter of heated debate, monitoring your child’s screen time is a good place to start.
But as with all things parenting, you need to set the example. If you are always on your screen, it will be difficult to get your child off it. Simple strategies like setting up screen-free zones or banning screens for the whole family after a certain hour can help reduce everyone’s exposure to screens.
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3) Make sure your child gets outside every day. Limiting screen time is great, but it is not enough. It is important that your child has opportunities to spend time in nature every day. Fortunately, you can help your child connect with nature through simple strategies such as playing outside or even taking a nature walk.
4) Change the layout of your home to make the most of nature. Getting outdoors is not the only way to ensure your child interacts with nature. Changing your layout to make sure they can see the outdoors, or creating places to read that overlook green spaces, is an easy way to help them connect with nature and reduce their anxiety.
5) Include nature in your family routine. There are many great family routines that can help your entire family connect with nature – hikes, walks in the park, outdoor movie nights, family sports games, camping, days at the beach or in the mountains, and so on. Making sure your family has at least one nature-related ritual is an easy way to use nature to reduce your child’s anxiety.
Check out some of the nature-based routines in our 30-day challenge!
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Connecting with nature doesn’t just help with your child’s anxiety. It can also help improve their concentration, cognitive skills, and overall well-being. Incorporating nature into your daily life has many benefits for your child and your entire family.
Scientific references
[1] Residential green space in childhood is associated with lower risk of psychiatric disorders from adolescence into adulthood
[2] Stress Response and Cognitive Performance Modulation in Classroom versus Natural Environments: A Quasi-Experimental Pilot Study with Children
[3] Impact of Green Space Exposure on Children’s and Adolescents’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review
[4] Owning houseplants can boost your mental health – here’s how to pick the right one
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