In an age where technology dominates the daily life of many, it is more important than ever to recognize the importance, and benefits, of getting kids and teens back into nature.
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“No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced.” – Sir David Attenborough
In his quote, David Attenborough describes a part of what researchers have titled “the extinction of experience.” To put it simply, this means that, as more people move to cities and urban areas grow, often overtaking natural areas, fewer people can experience and interact with nature. This creates a disconnect between people and the planet, something many already struggle with.
To care about the planet, our kids and teens must be able to experience it. Sustainable actions like recycling, saving energy, and conserving water lose their meaning if a child is not able to understand why they are important. Getting kids out into nature is important beyond promoting sustainable living. Nature has recognized mental and physical health benefits that can be even more beneficial for kids.
How Does Nature Benefit Kids?
1. It fosters creativity and imagination
The unique and different surroundings of nature can stimulate a child’s imagination and sense of adventure. Especially for children living in cities, the sights and smells of a forest or park can be completely new sensations for them.
2. It encourages exercise and improves physical health
Playing outside often has fewer limitations than playing indoors. Being outdoors, even if it is on a playground, allows children to release their energy while boosting vitamin D, which plays a key role in bone development, improves the immune system, and helps maintain cognitive functions. Oftentimes, enjoyable experiences outdoors can encourage kids to want to spend more time outside in the future.
3. It provides valuable mental health benefits
Being in nature is known to have calming, relaxing impacts on the mind. Overstimulation from prolonged technology use can harm the attention span of children, as well as their ability to handle and process emotions. Being in nature, even just for a few minutes, can have profoundly positive effects on mood, focus, and overall mental health. This is incredibly helpful for young, developing minds.
4. It fosters hobbies and future careers
As Attenborough said, experience leads to caring. As a personal example, someone growing up in proximity to nature is more likely to be drawn to sustainable careers, for example in the conservation field, and to develop hobbies such as hiking or gardening.
Being in nature helps introduce kids to new ideas and concepts that may result in new interests. This new curiosity can foster their desire for knowledge and potentially even improve academic performance.
Ways to Introduce and Include Nature in a Child’s Life
- Park Walks: If you live near a park, try to make a 15- to 30-minute park walk part of your weekend routine. It doesn’t have to be a national park or large park in general, local parks are great places to introduce kids to nature. Spend five minutes in silence and ask them what they heard or saw or do a “scavenger hunt” with them to find five types of flowers, trees, birds, etc.
- Bird Feeders: This is an easy option even for those who live in apartments or in the heart of the city. Place a bird feeder on or near your porch. Spend time learning about the different types of birds that approach it.
- Make it Artistic: For younger kids, collect sticks, pinecones, anything they find fascinating while out in nature and bring them home for an art project! Extending that experience beyond the time at the park will create a deeper level of engagement with outdoors.
- Make Technology Educational: One of the hardest challenges is to get kids to break away from technology. One way to do so is to turn technology into an educational opportunity. There are numerous apps that use technology for science. An example is Merlin, an app that helps identify birds through photos and sounds.
- Take Nature Inside (Virtually): If visiting a park is not possible, whether it is because it is cold or raining or you do not have natural spaces near you, there are still opportunities to help kids experience nature. There are numerous nature documentaries available on TV, streaming services, and even YouTube with enough diverse topics to entertain anyone’s unique interests. Research has shown that watching nature documentaries can have similar mental health benefits as experiencing it physically.
Check this out next: The 21 Best Environmental Films to Watch in 2024
Final Thoughts
As we seem to be suffering from a disconnection from nature as a society more and more, it is more important than ever that our children get the time in nature they need. Being in nature promotes a sustainable mind at a young age and provides physical exercise opportunities and nourishment for a developing brain and body.
How do you bring nature into the life of your child or teen?
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