It’s Spring! Let’s Get Out There!
For over 25 years my academic and professional life as been focused on the needs of children and families. I have seen many childcare trends come and go, but not many movements have made me as happy as the rebirth of nature-based play. To think that there had to be a grassroots crusade to bring nature-based play back into the lives of children is fascinating, but that is what happened. And I think we can agree there is not a more beautiful place in the world for children to experience nature than right here in Newfoundland and Labrador. Nature is a true educational resource, and we have lots of it – right at our fingertips.
Before I get into the reasons why all our kids need nature-based play, let’s have a closer a look at our latest generation of children. Today’s kids are in some form of structured group childcare from a very early age, constantly supervised, overscheduled, eat mountains of processed foods, have too many early academic demands, don’t get enough exercise, are often sleep deprived, spend epic hours inside and in front of screens; and this is a big one – are often emotionally dysregulated.
Many of the leading experts are labelling this generation of children as the most anxious and stressed we have ever seen. So how do we help to re-set, or re-boot this generation?
At Feeding Futures we work with families who are struggling to help their very anxious children. We like to give parents a roadmap of what they can do to try and help their children, and a big part of that map is play, time in nature, increasing family downtime, increasing exercise, and creating opportunities to make true relationship connections. The glorious thing about nature-based play is that it can help us tick off so many boxes of mental health management – for both children and adults. My very wise sister, and business partner says, ‘Pharmaceutical companies can’t provide us with a medication, with no side effects, as powerful as a family walk in the woods’. And I know she is right, we see it in our Feeding Futures families.
So here are some reasons why we love nature-based play:
- Being in nature helps us feel connected. Connected to the earth, air, water, sky, animals, food, and people found in the natural world. If we want the next generation of humans to care for the future of our planet, children need to be up to their boots in nature – experiencing it often.
- Exposure to Vitamin D. There is lots of research about the connection between Vitamin D and mental health, and all of us living on this beautiful island are deficient in the sunshine vitamin. So get out there and let the sunshine on your face.
- Nature-based play helps organize our senses. If your child has been diagnosed with sensory processing disorder, they need nature-based sensory play, and lots of it.
- Nature-based play helps kids take physical and emotional risks and learn independence. Our kids are told to ‘be careful’ lots – too much. When you take risks in play, you will become more independent and learn your own limits…not just adpot what people tell you are your limits.
- Stress and anxiety levels decrease as we increase our outdoor physical activity – this is science we can no longer ignore. This is true in kids diagnosed with, and without ADHD.
But I know what some of you are thinking. That’s great for all you hippies – so now we need to forget about academics and just let kids run wild in the woods all day? When will they learn all the academics they need? I get that thinking, so here are some academic benefits of nature-based play:
- Kids who spend time in nature experience increases in critical thinking, cooperation, and creativity.
- Nature-based play actually adds richness to academics; children can see academic theories in action – in the real world.
- Year-round outdoor play has been shown to increase academic performance, help kids filter out distractions, and increase executive functioning. In other words – these kids are quiet, focused, and alert.
There is science behind the need for nature in our lives. So get out there with your kids – go camping, jump in puddles, go biking, make art with flowers, build snow forts, and let the rain help you re-boot your connections with nature.
Many times a day…..take care,
About Lisa – she is Co-Founder of Feeding Futures and Special Needs Mom. Lisa is a firm believer that empowered parents, holistic care, and empathic relationships are powerful, and often missing pieces of pediatric interventions and care. She knows firsthand the challenges of parenting a child on the autism spectrum. Check our Feeding Futures Family Practices and Well-Shops at www.feedingfuturesnutrition.com
