Nature and Children: The Importance of Being Outside
August 6, 2024 By Lea AlteaWinnen
When I was a child, my father would send us out to play when he got home from work. He would not let us come back inside until dinner was ready. He believed children needed to be out in nature and playing as much as possible. I did not always agree with this tactic, but it worked. We had bikes, skates, a dog, and many neighborhood kids to play with, so we figured it out. Also, he would take us on camping trips, we would go to Lake Tahoe in his boat, we would go to the beach, play in the snow, and do many other outdoor activities. Nature is a place where anyone can play and reset themselves. Going on walks, playing in a sandbox, or riding a bike are all ways to engage in gross motor skills and get out into nature. According to Child Mind Institute in the article by Danielle Cohen called, Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature, “Many researchers agree that kids who play outside are happier, better at paying attention, and less anxious than kids who spend more time indoors. Spending time in nature can build their confidence. There’s a lot less structure than most types of indoor play and they can choose how they interact with the nature around them. This gives them practice managing their own actions and encourages creativity and imagination.”
It is important for children of all ages to get out into the sunshine, or even out on a rainy or snowy day (dressed for the weather of course.) Have you ever had a baby stop crying when you took them outside? Have you ever gotten angry or upset, and then taken a walk to feel yourself come down? There is something about how our souls connect with an open sky and shades of green. Science as shown by simply closing your eyes and envisaging an open meadow or a quiet beach was enough to calm our minds. In the article by D.B. Smith called The Power of The Mind: The Science of Visualization, Smith talks about different visualization methods that emphasize the practice is beneficial. According to the article on Science Abby, “Scientific studies have shown the positive effects of creative visualization on health, such as immunity, stress, healing and pain management. Science also shows that it improves many facets of life, from athletic ability to cognitive performance, to self-esteem, to goal achievement.” The human mind and its ability to connect with nature, whether through visualization or stepping out into the sunshine, can bring the body's ability to reset and calm itself. As parents and caregivers, we need to give children this powerful resource to help them in cognitive problem-solving and complex task management, learn to regulate their systems, and attune them to their body's healing processes.
To enhance the outdoor experience and environment for children, parents and caregivers can engage in these practices; green spaces, sensory play, open-ended experiences/ materials, tools for gross motor play, and quiet places. “Green spaces” are a way to enhance a child’s exploration of their outdoor area Whether it is a grassy area or plants in pots, greenery softens an outdoor space, and living objects, such as plants, help to engage parasympathetic systems. Also, Green spaces assist the body's natural healing systems. They provide a natural calming effect to most individuals who step outside. Provide sensory experiences, like sand and water play. Sensory play can be very stimulating and calming at the same time. It provides children with learning experiences through using body awareness, complex tasks, cognitive engagement, and problem-solving skills. For children who are feeling overwhelmed or emotionally deregulated, sensory play can provide a necessary redirection to assist them in calming themselves by additional information coming into their bodies through their sensory systems. Another outdoor practice is providing open-ended experiences/ materials (such as bubbles, chalk, balls, painting, etc), giving children space to use materials as they desire. Many times, for a child, the journey of engagement through the action of exploring materials or deciding how to engage in playing with an object, builds upon their imaginative and executive functioning skills. Open-ended experiences and materials give children the opportunity to engage in using decision and problem-solving skills. This will pave the way forward in these areas in their lives helping them enhance their ability to use experiences gained in these developmental spheres. Space and tools for gross motor engagement are also important for an outside area for building a child’s strength, balance, and coordination skills. Participating in gross motor play engages a child’s muscle development thought strengthening, and coordination building. It can also give much-needed sensory input to a child’s brain to help with the building of pathways for sensory regulation, impulse control, bilateral coordination, and a platform for fine motor development. On the opposite side of gross motor play is the importance of added quiet space. When you think about a quiet space, it could be as simple as a blanket under a tree with a basket of books. But in addition to having a quiet space, a space that might be hidden from view, gives a child an opportunity to view the world around them without the world viewing them. Quiet spaces are needed for children who just need time to sit and reflect. Maybe they are feeling overwhelmed or need to be able to “close” themselves off from others. Providing that kind of space can give a child a chance to adjust and reconnect maybe by reading a book, watching others from afar, or sitting in the shade and resting. It gives them a chance to reconnect with their inner selves, especially if they are experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety.
The importance of children and nature can be seen as a positive link to their development in all areas, everything from physical and mental development to social and emotional well-being. The connection that children can build between themselves and the natural world around them is profound. So get your kiddos out into the open air, to play, to reconnect, or calm an overstimulated body and overwhelmed mind. Whether it's going on a walk, going to the park to play, playing in the sand, or camping with the family, get them out and into the world, so they can start building upon their learning, developmental growth, and a connection with nature.
Sources:
Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature - Child Mind Institute
Power of the Mind: The Science of Visualization - Science Abbey
Comments
Post a Comment