Prepared By,
Emrana Perveen.

Benefits of Nature for Human Life

These are a few of many questions addressed by researchers in recent years. The answer provide important insights for families and schools.

There are many natural scenery  that underscore the benefits of nature, including stress relief, improved short-term memory, and increased mental energy, less inflammation, better vision, improved concentration, creativity, and improved mental health. For families, the great outdoors is a natural playground that contributes to a child’s positive development.

 How does nature improve children’s health and well-being?

No special equipment is necessary. In fact, children can be mesmerized with the simplicity of nature and the creative possibilities that emerge.
Picture credit google
I write this article, not only as a developmental psychologist and researcher, but from my own experience. I was one of those kids who loved being outdoors.

I could be fascinated for hours watching armies of ants move breadcrumbs from one ant hill to another. As I sat in our backyard cherry tree, I wondered why the birds liked to eat cherries before they were ripe. I was in awe of nature’s mysteries.
As I reflect on my childhood experiences many years later, I attribute my connection to nature as an exceptional source of inspiration and creativity.

Why Is Playing Outside Important?

Children require exercise to develop physically and mentally. They need to explore, take risks, question, and experiment, discover, sing, dance, and imagine. These activities abound in the outdoors and are some of the many benefits of nature.
We know that contact with nature is a source of wonder and inspiration for children, and essential to their healthy development and sense of spirituality.
Picture credit google
  In fact, research studies show that nature increases youth creativity, reduces stress, and helps kids who suffer from attention defection syndrome.

Children of all ages must learn to push their physical limits and explore emotional boundaries. How high can I climb? Do I dare jump further than I ever have before? What happens when I skip a rock in the pond? The benefits of nature create a beautiful backdrop for exploring oneself.
A 2005 study by the American Institute for research  found that the best natural and kids who learn in outdoor classrooms improve their science scores by 27 percent. Not only is outdoor education critical for child development, researchers suggest it is also important for the future of the planet. We know that when children and adults connect with nature, they are more apt to become environmentally conscious citizens.

Benefits of Nature VS Technology

The impact of media is a growing topic of research, particularly during childhood Dhaka Bangladesh. In 1970, the average age at which children watched television was four years old. Today, the average is four months. The typical child before the age of five is watching 4.5 hours of television per day, 40% of their waking hours!
As children grow to teenagers, media usage jumps exponentially, with computers and social media playing ever-important roles.
A cute girl is enjoy
Most studies on the digital health and emotional well-being of children agree there are Most educational and usefulness of technology.

What about nature?

 I have never seen a study showing the disadvantages of nature on the health and well-being of children! Studies abound on the benefits of nature!

Louv spurred a national dialogue about the benefits of nature among parents, teachers, and health professionals referred to as the Leave No Child Inside movement.  In fact, educators and policymakers are so concerned with the lack of children’s connection to nature that the No Child Left inside Act of 2009 was created to help fund training and provide resources for environmental education.

An excellent video demonstrates the many ways children and nature collide to positively affect development.  Children develop the best  skills as they learn to make inferences and draw conclusions. They learn by tasting, touching, and seeing wildlife and flora in ways they could not learn from a book. Bringing children and nature together helps teach respect for the planet and the ways we are inextricably connected.

7 Activities That Bring the Benefits of Nature to Children


Richard Louv, recipient of the 2008 Audubon Medal, provides a great list of activities for families in his online  to Last Child in the Woods. The Supplement also lists good books that facilitate the connection of children and nature as well as helpful links to sites where your child can learn in the great outdoors. It’s amazing how many activities are available in our own backyards! His suggested activities include the following:
A smiling girl is swimming.

It’s amazing how many activities are available in our own backyards! His suggested activities include the following:
·         Maintain a bird bath or a bird feeder.
·         Encourage kids to camp in the backyard.
·         Build a backyard weather station.
·         Make a “green hour” a new family tradition, giving children time for unstructured play in the natural world.
·         Invent a nature game on a hike in the country.
·         Build a tree house with your kids.
·         Plant a garden and  take care of them.
    

Act Today to Help Children Connect with Nature

Parents, schools, and communities can get great information on outdoor activities and access studies on the benefits of nature from the Natural.  Read the research, get leadership training, download info graphics and learn how to act on behalf of children in ways that facilitate their health and well-being.


[All information  and picture credit by Google]