17/10/2022
The proof of nature play is in the research
It’s been hard to say exactly what the direct impacts of decreased green time on children were, but we now have the first epidemiological studies that show an association between less contact with the natural world in childhood and worse mental health in adulthood. “Collecting data from nearly 3,600 individuals in four different European countries, researchers at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health have found that these childhood experiences are associated with feelings of nervousness and depression in adulthood. “The results show that participants who scored lower on the mental health tests also had less exposure to nature in childhood, and this was true regardless of how much time they spent in nature as adults. What’s more, these participants didn’t seem to place as much significance on natural spaces in general.” (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health)
Here is the link to the article: https://parentswithconfidence.com/40-astounding-benefits-outdoor-nature-play-kids/?fbclid=IwAR2jJ5J4-2n_8jojrRwhOqSAXNyq5bO1Suw9101EjDMFYNgRGzMS8DIGepA
