Title: Nature’s Impact on Child Growth & Development
Course: Nature & Human Wellness eeCourse > Section: Module 3: Impact of Nature on Human Health & Development

Child & the Natural Environment

Nature plays a significant role in promoting children's health, growth, and development across physical, psychological, social, and cognitive domains. Exposure to natural environments and outdoor activities has been shown to have numerous positive effects on children's overall well-being.

In this section, we’ll explore an overview of how nature impacts children's health and development in the following domains:

- Physical Health
- Mental Health
- Cognitive Development
- Social-Emotional Development

TASK: Read “Children & the Natural Environment”, a chapter found in the textbook “Environmental Psychology”

Physical Health Benefits

TASK: Numerous studies have explored the relationship between nature exposure and various aspects of physical well-being in children. Download and read through this Physical Health Benefits Infographicto explore ways in which research supports the idea that nature helps children's physical health.

Infographic References

1. Dankiw, K.A., Tsiros, M.D., Baldock, K.L., Kumar, S., (2020). The impacts of unstructured nature play on health in early childhood development: A systematic review. PLoS ONE, 15(2)
2. Kuo, M. (2015). How might contact with nature promote human health? promising mechanisms and a possible central pathway. Frontiers in Psychology, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01093
3. Shin, J. C., Parab, K. V., An, R., & Grigsby-Toussaint, D. S. (2020). Greenspace exposure and sleep: A systematic review. Environmental Research, 182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.109081
4. Niemistö, D., Finni, T., Haapala, E.A., Cantell, M., Korhonen, E., Saakslahti, A., (2019). Environmental correlates of motor competence in children—The Skilled Kids study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16

Mental Health Benefits

TASK: Research has found an overwhelming positive relationship between nature exposure and various aspects of children’s mental health and well-being. Download and read through the Mental Health Benefits Infographicto explore ways in which research supports the idea that nature helps children's mental health.

Infographic References

1. Wells, N. M., & Evans, G. W. (2003b). Nearby nature. Environment and Behavior, 35(3), 311–330. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916503035003001
2. Mygind, L., Kjeldsted, E., Hartmeyer, R., Mygind, E., Bølling, M., Bents, P., (2019). Mental, physical and social health benefits of immersive nature-experiences for children and adolescents: A systematic review and quality assessment of the evidence. Health & Place, 58
3. Dodd, H. F., Nesbit, R. J., & FitzGibbon, L. (2022). Child’s play: Examining the association between time spent playing and Child Mental Health.Child Psychiatry &amp; Human Development, 54(6), 1678–1686. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-022-01363-2
4. Li, D., Menotti, T., Ding, Y., Wells, N. M., (2021). Life course nature exposure and mental health outcomes: A systematic review and future directions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18
5. Buhari, M. R., & Marda, K. D. (2020). Development of competency based on outdoor education model for elementary school students in Samarinda.Proceedings of the 2nd Educational Sciences International Conference (ESIC 2019). https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200417.010
6. Snell, T. L., Simmonds, J. G., Klein, L. M., (2020). Exploring the impact of contact with nature in childhood on adult personality. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 55, 1-9.

Cognitive Development Benefits

TASK: Cognitive development in children refers to the development of knowledge and skills that help children think about and understand the world around them. Download and read through the Cognitive Development Benefits Infographic below to explore ways in which research has found that nature has a positive impact on the children’s cognitive development.

Infographic References

1. Faber Taylor, A., & Kuo, F. E. (2009). Children with attention deficits concentrate better after walk in the Park.Journal of Attention Disorders, 12(5), 402–409. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054708323000
2. Kiewra, C., Veselack, E., (2016).Playing with nature: Supporting preschoolers' creativity in natural outdoor classrooms. The International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 4(1)
3. Boulton, P., Thomas, A., (2022). How does play in the outdoors afford opportunities for schema development in young children? . International Journal of Play, 11(2), 184-201.
4. Dadvand, P., Pujol, J., Macia, D., Martínez-Vilavella, G, Blanco-Hinojo, L., Mortamais, M., Álvarez-Pedrerol, M., Fenoll, R., Esnaola, M., Dalmau-Bueno, A., López-Vicente, M., Basagaña, X., Jerrett, M., Nieuwenhuijsen, M., Sunyer, J., (2018). The association between lifelong greenspace exposure and 3-dimensional brain magnetic resonance imaging in Barcelona schoolchildren. Environmental Health Perspectives
5. Kuo, M., Barnes, M., Jordan, C., (2019). Do experiences with nature promote learning? Converging evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship. Frontiers in Psychology, 10

Social-Emotional Development Benefits

TASK: Social-emotional development is a critical component of overall healthy child development. Download and read through the Social-Emotional Benefits Infographic to explore ways in which research has found nature has a positive impact on the children’s social-emotional development.

Infographic References

1. Lanza, K., Alcazar, M., Chen, B., Kohl III, H. W., (2023). Connection to nature is associated with social-emotional learning of children. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, 4
2. Scott, G., Boyd, M., & Colquhoun, D. (2013). Changing Spaces, changing relationships: The positive impact. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, 17(1), 47–53. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03400955
3. Faber Taylor, A., Butts-Wilmsmeyer, C., (2020). Self-regulation gains in kindergarten related to frequency of green schoolyard use. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 70
4. Davignon, L., Poulin, F., Renault, A., (2022). Organized activities in adolescence and pro‐environmental behaviors in adulthood: The mediating role of pro‐environmental attitudes. Journal of Adolescence, 95(2), 284-295.
5. Křepelková, S. D., Krajhanzl, J., Kroufek, R., (2020). The influence of interaction with nature in childhood on future pro-environmental behavior.Journal of Baltic Science Education, 19(4), 536 - 550.

Impact of Nature on Child Development

TASK: Watch  "The Impact of Nature in Child Development: A Review of the Evidence through the Lens of a Local Pediatrician" below:   “The Impact of Nature in Child Development: A Review of the Evidence through the Lens of a Local Pediatrician”

Journal Reflection

In your course journal on your own time, please reflect on the following questions:

- After reading “Children & the Natural Environment”, reflect on the section defining nature experiences found in table 10.1.  What resonated with you from your own experience and why?

- Describe at least three benefits nature has on child development.

- How has your nature connection benefited your mental, physical, and cognitive health?