Health & wellbeing articles

Can Outdoor Nursery Learning Reduce Phone Addiction in Children?

This article from an outdoor nursery reflects on current concerns about children’s phone use and attention, and argues that time outdoors in the early years can lay strong foundations for focus, emotional regulation and wellbeing long before smartphones enter children’s lives. Wild Days Lodge, March 2026.

Want to communicate better with your kids? Take them outside

Explores how time outdoors can help strengthen communication and connection between children and adults. Introduces research into the benefits of conversations in natural environments before offering practical ideas to help families have more meaningful discussions outdoors. National Geographic Kids, September 2021.

Why woods are good for our health and wellbeing

'Many of us feel this intuitively. But there is also an ever-growing mountain of scientific evidence, brought into even sharper focus since the coronavirus pandemic, that's painting a picture of the health benefits of trees, woods and the natural environment.' The Woodland Trust writes about their work ensuring more people have access to woods and the benefits that nature and woods bring.

Is being barefoot in the early years catching on?

Prof Jan White celebrates the growing trend of going barefoot, and looks at the qualities and benefits for small children of an outdoor environment which allows it. Early Childhood Outdoors (ECO), 2019.

Return to old habits as babies encouraged to sleep outside in fresh air

Parents & nurseries influenced by the Forest School approach are leaving their children outside to sleep. “The health benefits of children just being outdoors & physically active is enormous & there is no evidence that any harm occurs provided babies are well-wrapped and not cold.” The Telegraph (behind a paywall), 3 February 2018.

De-stress your kids with a forest bathing adventure

Explains the principles of forest bathing and how mindful time in nature can support wellbeing and reduce stress. Introduces the evidence and benefits associated with the practice, before offering a beginner's guide to help children and families get started. National Geographic Kids (no date).

Four Scientific Reasons Why Kids Should Be Outdoors

Looking at four key areas of benefit – movement development, eyesight, skin health and respect for the environment. Bluearth Foundation (AUS), 9 January 2017.

Green space, mental wellbeing and sustainable communities

Looking at the wealth of evidence of how the public’s health can be improved by increasing access to green and blue space and improving the quality of our natural environment. Public Health Matters, 9 November 2016.

Children need microbes — not antibiotics — to develop immunity, scientists say

Interview with Marie-Claire Arrieta, co-author of the book Let Them Eat Dirt: Saving Our Children from an Oversanitized World. Global Heart (originally The Toronto Star, CAN), 20 October 2016.

NHS should spend millions on nature-for-health plan, say wildlife groups

‘NHS England should spend millions of pounds on using nature to prevent illness & help people recover from health problems … part of a wider plan put forward by the RSPB, National Trust & 24 other groups on how the government should protect and restore UK flora & fauna.’ The Guardian, 13 October 2015.

The Nature Cure

Why some doctors are writing prescriptions for time outdoors. Considering the growing field of ecotherapy and the benefits of spending time outdoors, with references to some significant research studies, and Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods. The Atlantic (US), October 2015.

Mud pies and green spaces – why children do better when they can get outdoors

‘It seems that research across many areas and disciplines now needs to be combined to fully understand the green uplift effect in many aspects of education, health, development and well-being, particularly for young people.’ The Conversation, 15 June 2015.

Arts and Crafts Activities May Stave Off Dementia

"... people who engaged in craft activities such as woodworking or pottery were 45 percent less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment than those who did not participate in such activities, researchers found." Live Science (US), 8 April 2015.

Children Must Engage in Active Play for Optimal Brain Function

“Children must engage in active play for optimal brain function… A new study shows the brain-body connection is stronger than many people realized.” Guardian Liberty Voice (US), 30 September 2014.

Barefoot Babies

‘How keeping little feet in the buff encourages a strong foundation for optimal brain and nervous system development.’ Chiropractor Kacie Flegal, in Natural Child Magazine (US), c2008.