In our current society, there is much focus on fostering a child’s intellectual, or cognitive, development. It is also important to keep in mind that the way a child functions emotionally, socially, and physically can have an effect on his or her ability to learn. When thinking about how to best support the development of young children, the term “whole child approach” is frequently used. When considering the “whole child” one must consider development in all the various areas, or domains, that encompass the ways in which children learn, grow, and change over time. These domains are intertwined, each affecting the others. Nature Play has been shown to support all areas of development: cognitive, social, emotional, and physical.
How Nature Play Supports the Whole Child
Social Development:
Reduces Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) symptoms. Contact with the natural world can significantly reduce symptoms of attention deficit disorder in children as young as five years old (Kuo and Taylor, 2004). *
Improves social relations: Children will be smarter, better able to get along with others, healthier and happier when they have regular opportunities for free and unstructured play in the out- of-doors (Burdette and Whitaker, 2005). *
Emotional Development:
Improves self-discipline: Access to green spaces, and even a view of green settings, enhances peace, self-control and self- discipline within inner city youth, and particularly in girls (Taylor, Kuo and Sullivan, 2001). *
Reduces stress: Green plants and vistas reduce stress among highly stressed children. Locations with greater number of plants, greener views, and access to natural play areas show more significant results (Wells and Evans, 2003). *
Physical Development:
Increases physical activity: Children who experience school grounds with diverse natural settings are more physically active, more aware of nutrition, more civil to one another and more creative (Bell and Dyment, 2006). *
Improves eyesight: More time spent outdoors is related to reduced rates of nearsightedness, also known as myopia, in children and adolescents (American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2011). *
Cognitive Development:
Studies of children in schoolyards found that children engage in more creative forms of play in the green areas, supporting creativity and problem-solving skills (Bell and Dyment,2006). *
Proximity to, views of, and daily exposure to natural settings increases children’s ability to focus, thus enhancing cognitive abilities (Wells, 2000). *1
Beyond the Research
In Nature Play Programs for young children, this development can be seen firsthand. Adults model caring behaviors for their children, for both nature and for the other children and caregivers in the program: this is is social development. Young children take ownership of their work and art, developing autonomy and self- confidence: this is emotional development. Children use their space and the natural materials they are provided to exercise their muscles, both large and small: this is physical development. There is no doubt these children are learning, and they are learning with their “whole” selves!
*From “Benefits of Connecting Children with Nature: Why Naturalize Outdoor Learning Environments” Natural Learning Initiative. January 2012.