by Dr. Paula Barrett     In the western world we are seeing alarming statistics showing that many families are now spending most of their free time indoors in front of screens.  Sadly, this has become a common form of relaxation for many children and their parents.  Screen relaxation activities are at the expense of time spent in nature, being involved in activities in natural environments and spending time with and conversing as a family. 

It is paramount that parents and anyone working with children raise awareness of the importance of time spent in nature for the physical and emotional wellbeing of both children and adults.

The shift of consciousness away from our relationship with nature can be seen everywhere and is both overt and subtle.  One example I can relay occurred a few years ago when my husband and I were looking for a new house in Brisbane.  We’d found a suburb where many of the houses backed onto a beautiful nature reserve. We were walking our dogs through the reserve when two dogs in adjoining backyard started making friends with our dogs. 

The backyard was expansive, with a pool and state-of-the art play equipment.  A little boy looked up from his Nintendo game he was playing on the back deck.  His parents were also sitting with him on the deck with their laptops. The little boy came over to talk to us and the mother also said hello. The parents then proceeded to call out to their daughter, about 6, to come out of the house and see all the dogs.   The little girl, chubby like her brother, came running out with excitement and patted my dogs.  Her mum proudly stated ‘Oh she loves dogs and puppies’.  The little girl eagerly added ‘I love puppies! I’ve spent all weekend playing my puppy game on the computer!”  Ironically the little girl even had two dogs of her own, but instead chose to interact with their electronic versions!

In the last ten years terminology such as ‘screen-parenting’ have been frequently used when referring to children who spend large amounts of time in their early years glued to television screens, computer games or mobile devices. This practice allows parents to proceed with their own activities without having to engage with their children, talk to them, monitor them or establish boundaries of conversations and behaviours with them.

This lack of conversation or verbal interaction with their parents has serious implications for the children who experience emotional distress later on and don’t have the ability or the knowledge to regulate their emotions or talk about their experiences.  One of the saddest spectacles I have witnessed is that of parents who take their children to restaurants with a portable electronic game or dvd player, and then proudly think their children are seemingly behaving perfectly because they aren’t talking.

There is so much research pointing to the direct health benefits for children, adults and families who spend time in nature. 

1. Children’s Development:

Specifically for children, time spent in nature stimulates activity promoting motor development, allows them to focus and sustain attention, and has a direct relationship with being able to focus on their school work, as discussed in the book ‘Coping with ADD the Surprising Connection to Green Play Settings’ (Taylor, Kuo and Sullivan).  The more time children spend outside in nature the better they become in all areas of development, whether it be social (relating to people and understanding relationships), fine and gross motor-development, cognitive  (numeracy, literacy and spatial) or emotional (development of empathy and regulating feelings).

2. Children’s Imagination:

Unfortunately by providing loads of new and exciting toys, especially computer games with structured activities featuring predetermined paths for progress, we have encouraged a lack of creativity in our children. Nature provides infinite possibilities for free-play.  Exposing children to the fun of exploration, the unpredictability of nature and a degree of risk is extremely positive for children’s development.  Playing amongst rocks, tree branches and natural spaces, all ever-changing, prompt new thoughts on what a cubby house might look like, or new places to play hide and seek.  Appreciating the seasons and weather, changes in nature, life cycles, wind, rain etc, promotes a notion of change that ultimately helps children deal with changes in their own lives.

3. Children’s Learning:

Nature Deficit Disorder, a term coined by Richard Louv in his 2005 edition book ‘Last Child in the Woods’ (new edition published in 2010)  speaks to the direct effect between children with attention-deficit disorders and the positive benefit of increasing time in nature to improve concentration and the learning environment indoors.  Basically time spent in nature IMPROVES time spent inside and in the classroom.

4. Children’s Health:

There is also important evidence that the lack of contact with nature manifests itself as a lack of physical health in individuals.  We can all bolster our immunity by more direct contact with nature – just by taking your shoes off and walking on bare ground can have great health benefits.  Children spending all of their time indoors are not exposed to animals or regular dirt which we have chosen to define as ‘mess and bacteria’.  Our sterile environments don’t allow our immunity systems to develop the necessary defenses to protect our children from being able to resist serious illnesses down the track.

The benefits of daily exercising and being active have undeniable positive implications for physical and mental health as it promotes the release of endorphins, the natural producing body chemicals related to feeling of happiness.  Spending time in nature increases levels of endorphins but also reduces the level of cortisol – the stress hormone in our blood stream.

So how can we change our habits?

For a start, being active in nature should try to be a daily thing.  Parents need to put this into their psyches and afford nature activities as much importance as brushing your teeth, and reading bedtime stories.

Put it in focus – It’s simply and free of charge to put kids in nature.  And it doesn’t require great planning.  But these can’t be once a year things.  Aim for daily interaction with nature, whether it be building sand castles, walk on the beach, run in green areas, roller blade, bike ride, ball games in parks, climb trees, grow a garden, play in rocky creek beds, or walking your dogs.  The possibilities are infinite! 

Some food for thought … The happiest family snaps are not those taken of your children glued to the television or computer screen.  They’re the ones taken at the beach, camping, hiking, swimming, picnicking etc.  Wouldn’t it be great it all of your family snaps seemed like a holiday snaps!  It’s easy, and free and you can start today.

About the Author:

Paula Barrett is one of the world’s leading psychologists in the area of prevention and treatment of childhood anxiety and depressive disorders. She is currently a Professor at the University of Queensland’s School of Education, and the Director of the innovative research-based Brisbane clinic, Pathways Health and Research Centre.  Paula is the patron of the Pathways to Resilience Trust that works to implement positive psychology programs in Australian schools in areas of low Socio-Economic Status, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and Indigenous backgrounds, as well as regional and remote areas, particularly those affected by drought. Paula’s research, writings and programs have reached millions of children worldwide.   For more information visit www.pathwayshrc.com.au

References:
Louv, R. (2010) ‘Last Child in the Woods’, Atlantic Books, London

Munoz, S.J. (2009). Children in the Outdoors: A literature Review.
Sustainable Development Research Centre Horizon Scotland

Taylor, A., Kuo, F., E., (2009) ‘Children with attention deficits concentrate better after walk in the park’, Journal of Attention Disorders, 12 (5), pp. 402 – 409
Taylor, A., Kuo, F. & Sullivan, W. (2001). Coping With ADD: The Surprising Connection to Green Play Settings. Environment and Behavior, 33 (1), 54-77

Useful websites:

http://www.childrenandnature.org/research/

http://www.backyardnature.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl.h,content=390

http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/nacc/ibm/pdf/research_summaries.doc

http://www.greenheartsinc.org/Nature_Play.html

http://www.greenheartsinc.org/uploads/Early_Childhood_Resources_for_Nature_Play.pdf

http://www.countrysiderecreation.org.uk/Children%20Outdoors.pdf

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