It’s a summery day in July, and you decide to head out for a relaxing stroll in the park. As you’re putting your shoes on, you call out to your children, asking them if they would like to join you. Typically, they refuse, claiming that they’d all rather stay indoors and watch some TV. So you head off on your own, but as you’re surrounded by the beautiful grass, flowers, trees, and fresh air, you can’t help but worry - Are my children spending too much time indoors? Would they benefit from being surrounded by nature? And how can I encourage them to be outdoors more often?

If you’re concerned that your child is not being exposed enough to nature, then you’re certainly not alone. In fact, a study found that the average American child spends only 4 - 7 minutes per day playing outdoors, compared to a whopping 7 hours in front of a screen!

In an increasingly technological and urbanised world, we know that it is more difficult to convince your child to spend time playing outdoors. However, for several reasons, it is important that your developing child is exposed to nature.

In this article, we wish to share these reasons with you, before ending with some tips on encouraging your child to be outdoors.

Why is it important to expose my child to nature?

Mental health. A large review of 300 studies indicated a strong connection between exposure to nature and improved mental health in children. Urban environments can be conducive to stress, while natural environments have a calming and nourishing effect on the mind.

Physical activity. By spending more time outdoors, children are more likely to run around and exercise. This has a positive effect on their physical health, in turn improving their emotional wellbeing.

A sense of wonder. Children may be fascinated by their favourite programmes or games, but nothing comes close to nature when it comes to provoking a sense of amazement in kids. Being surrounded by the world’s natural wonders - whether it is a bright red rose or an elegantly gliding bird - engages that precious curiosity that children have in abundance.

Creativity. Playing outdoors engages children’s imagination in a way that cannot be matched by indoor games. This is because they can interact directly with their natural surroundings, allowing them to be creative and think freely when designing activities. So, sufficient exposure to nature is important for developing a child’s imagination.

Education. Sure, it’s possible to educate your child about the workings of the Earth from your own living room. But children are much better learners when they can be shown the things they are being taught. So, in order to keep your child informed - whether it’s about how a plant grows or why a spider makes a web - it’s important to make sure that you teach them these things by pointing them out in real life!

Now that we’ve seen the importance of spending time in green spaces for children, let’s take a look at how you can encourage your child to be outdoors more!

How can I expose my child to nature?

Find your nearest park. You don’t need to embark on a trip to the Amazon rainforest in order to give your child adequate exposure to nature! If you live in a busy city, take your child on a walk to your nearest green space. By making this trip a habit, your child may begin to have positive associations with a particular park or field.

Introduce games. We know what children are like - a stroll in the park is hardly going to make them jump for joy! So, to encourage them to be immersed in nature, suggest that you head outdoors to play a fun, active game. If your child is the sporty type, bring a football or a tennis ball to get them motivated.

Organise a picnic. Involving food is a surefire way to pique your child’s interest! Get your child involved in making the sandwiches and choosing the drinks and snacks. Then, when the picnic basket is ready, take your child out for an outdoor lunch on a sunny day!

Be persistent. If your child is used to staying indoors and playing on the iPad, they may be particularly resistant to playing outdoors. But don’t give up! Remember that one of the reasons for their reluctance may simply be that they don’t know what they’re missing out on. So, even if they are sulking initially, they will one day thank you for introducing them to life’s natural wonders!

Why is it important to expose my child to nature?

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