In recent years a lot has been published on the beneficial impact of playing in nature on children’s emotional and psychological well-being. In the most recent issue of The California Psychologist, psychologist Dr. Gomes reviews this research and makes valuable suggestions for therapists and parents on how to reap the benefits of the outdoors.
In a study done on children diagnosed with ADHD, researchers found that children with ADHD were able to concentrate significantly better after having gone on a walk in the park than those who walked in areas without greenery: in a neighborhood or through a downtown city area. The improvement seen by children who walked in the park was reported by researchers to be comparable to the effect that would have been expected from taking ADHD medication (Fabor Taylor & Kuo, 2009).
Another study reviewed by Gomes was one that found that children who played in nature demonstrated increased psychological well-being than those who did not spend time playing outdoors. The mothers of the children who played in nature rated their children as having lower levels of psychological distress and higher reports of self-worth. Nature was found to be a buffer against stress for these children – the more stress they had, the more protected they were by their engagement in nature (Wells & Evans, 2003).
Creative play also has long been recognized as contributing to children’s emotional, social and cognitive development in a way that structured play or play with technology does not (Gomes, 2010).
In her review of the research, Gomes makes several suggestions to parents and clinicians. Among the most doable and potentially beneficial is her recommendation that families encourage more unstructured outdoor play time for their children (and, of course, themselves).
References:
Fabor Taylor, A., & Kuo, F. (2009). Children with attention deficits concentrate better after walk in the park. Journal of Attention Disorders, 12, 402-409.
Gomes, M., (2010). It’s not just child’s play: The powerful impact of nature on children’s well-being. The California Psychologist, 43, 14-17.
Wells, N., & Evans G., (2003). Nearby nature: A buffer of life stress among rural children. Environment and Behavior, 35, 311-330.
Resource For Further Information: Children and Nature Network (www.childrenandnature.org)
