Kids and Nature

Isn’t it frustrating when you see children being discouraged from exploring –

“Don’t get muddy,” 

“Don’t climb that tree,” 

“Don’t jump in the puddle!”

But if kids can’t get stuck in, and engage with nature then how will they learn to love it?

And if they don’t learn to love it, they won’t see the importance in protecting it. That goes for all of us at all ages to be honest, so let’s think of this for all kids – big and small!

Here we’re all passionate about protecting our natural environment. If we wild camp, we leave it as we find it. We don’t litter. We forage responsibly. The list goes on, but that’s because we all have a deep love of nature don’t we?

We’re all lucky enough to get out and engage with the environment around us, whether that’s through bushcraft, expeditions or just generally exploring. 

So if we want the next generation to love it and care for it as much as we do we need to encourage them out into it in the first place. To allow them to climb that tree, to get muddy and definitely to jump in that puddle!

As well as gaining a deeper connection with nature, one that will help them nurture and care for the environment as they grow up, there are the other great benefits to being outside too.

There’s the obvious physical advantages – getting them out and moving, helping them to build positives habits and being generally more active. There’s the positives of breathing in the fresh air and getting out into the natural light – boosting their mood and important Vitamin D levels too.

But there are also the less obvious physical benefits too. Moving through a natural environment, picking their way over logs and ditches helps to improve balance and co-ordination, something that is essential to us all. Without basic balance and co-ordination they are at a higher risk of injury into adulthood – so get them balancing on those logs, skipping over those ditches and definitely jumping in those puddles!

And of course the psychological benefits of engaging in nature are huge!

Not only has time out in nature been scientifically proven to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, but it boosts sleep too. Sadly we are living in a time when mental health battles in children and teens are alarmingly high. There was a worrying statistic from a Dr on the radio this morning saying that there has been a huge rise in children, specifically teens, being prescribed anti-depressants. I’m not suggesting that nature can cure all cases of mental illness, and I’m certainly not suggesting that medication is the incorrect path to take, but I think that our younger generations are struggling with their mental well-being and we as adults need to help them. 

One of the most effective ways to help children and teens with their all over health and well-being is to encourage engagement in the great outdoors. Help them to fall in love with nature, and the earlier the better. This is something that can create a positive platform for them to carry forward into adulthood and help to gain balance in their lives.

It’s not only being out in nature that helps, but it’s what nature teaches us along the way. Nature is humbling, there is no place for ego, but yet the natural environment also builds strength, confidence and resilience.

Resilience is a word that is often overused, it’s often used in a sense that someone needs to “toughen up.” But it’s not always that straight forward, especially for children and teens – they need to learn strategies and skills that gradually build their resilience at their own pace. And this is where nature is so great, it can teach you so much about yourself, the world around you and show you what you are capable of. 

Resilience is the ability to withstand, or recover well from difficult situations, and getting out and exploring and learning in natural environments is a great way to build on this. Heading out on hikes, expeditions, wild camping and learning the appropriate skills as they go can show children and teens what they are truly capable of. Being out in situations that allow us to see how deep we can dig helps us to build our mental strength and build confidence in our own abilities, something that can help teens as they head into adulthood, and younger children as they navigate education, friendships and the world around them. 

Of course for children and teens to do this they need a knowledgeable adult to guide them on this, someone who has the skills and knowledge base, but someone who has a positive outlook to encourage the love of the outdoors. Not someone who is negative, demoralising or just there for their own ego – we’ve all met someone like that I’m sure!

So let’s help children and teens to enjoy the outdoors, to learn skills that will help them help themselves as they navigate all that life may throw their way. But ultimately, let’s get outdoors and jump in those puddles!