It is a scientifically proven fact that people who spend a lot of time outdoors are happier, healthier, less stressed, and suffer from fewer psychological problems than those who do not.
The studies that have attempted to analyze the impact of nature on children have all found similar results. They say that the more children connect with nature, the better their overall social, academic and psychological outcomes. And the time spent connecting with nature has an impact even in later years.
In other words, children who spend a lot of time in green spaces have better well-being in later years than those who do not.
How nature affects your child
You’ve probably heard about the healing powers of nature. Well, those healing powers have been scientifically validated.
A group of researchers interested in understanding how exposure to natural stimuli influences behavior studied over 2,500 children between the ages of seven and ten.
They compared the children’s exposure to green spaces at home, at school, and on their commute to school. The researchers found that the children who were surrounded by greener neighborhoods had better self-control, better working memory and were less inattentive than those who were not.
In a separate study, a group of Australian researchers found that combining nature and micro-breaks helped increase children’s attention. They found that participants exposed to a flowering green roof during tasks made fewer mistakes than those exposed to a concrete roof.
The results of yet another study suggest that simply listening to natural sounds, such as crickets, birdsong or moving water, improves performance, as opposed to listening to urban sounds such as car horns.
Much research has been done to demonstrate the link between nature and children’s performance. The results show that:
– Exposure to nature can help reduce stress and anxiety in children.
– Nature can help children who struggle with concentration and attention.
– Regular exposure to nature helps increase children’s sense of well-being.
– Exposure to nature can help improve children’s cognitive skills.
– Spending time in nature can improve children’s mental and emotional well-being.
Connecting with nature is good, but not everyone has the opportunity to living in a green space or within walking distance of a lake, river or ocean. But here’s the thing: there are many simple ways you can help your child connect with nature, or even bring nature to your own doorstep.
Here are seven things that every family, regardless of their environment, can do to help their child connect with nature.
7 ways to bring nature into your child’s life, regardless of your environment
1) Get your child an aquarium: Allowing your child to observe fish and the movement of water is an easy way to help them connect with nature. The purchase of a small family aquarium is something that is within the reach of all families, and it can be a great way to foster a sense of connection to the natural world. Aquariums have also been shown to be very effective in reducing stress and anxiety in children.
2) Make the most of indoor plants. Many studies focused on increasing well-being in workplaces, hospitals, and schools say that indoor plants are a simple and highly effective strategy.
They say that choosing attractive plants with lush green foliage, or plants that are associated with happy memories, is an easy way to help your child connect with nature.
3) Visit a local park. Most urban areas have green spaces such as parks or gardens. Taking a walk or even organizing a picnic in such spaces can help bring nature into your child’s life.
4) Start a garden. Creating a small garden is possible even if you live in an urban area. Encouraging your child to keep a potted plant, grow flowers, or even tend a mini vegetable garden can help them connect with nature.
5) Suggest regular nature walks. Organizing nature walks to explore your surroundings on foot or by bike is an easy way to help your child connect with nature.
Suggesting nature scavenger hunts can make nature walks more interesting for your children. For example, you can ask them to identify five different types of leaves, birds, trees, flowers, etc.
6) Take your child to outdoor events in your area. Most urban areas have nature-themed outdoor events, such as farmers’ markets or even environmental awareness events. Check regularly for events in your area to find a good fit for your family.
7) Make the most of your surroundings. You can easily reap the benefits of nature right from your home by changing the layout of your home.
If your home overlooks a green space, make sure the view is unobstructed. If possible, encourage your child to spend as much time as possible reading or playing in areas where they can see these views.
Helping your child connect with nature can help improve their social, academic, and psychological outcomes. The good news is that even in urban environments, it is possible to provide opportunities for children to connect more deeply with the natural world.
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