Research, reports: health, wellbeing

Natural Play Spaces Can Benefit Children’s Health, study finds

'Playgrounds that mimic the natural environment have physical and mental benefits for preschool children, according to a study.' Co-authored by professors at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (US), 9 July 2019

Low Childhood Nature Exposure is Associated with Worse Mental Health in Adulthood

"Adults with low levels of childhood natural outdoor environments exposure had, when compared to adults with high levels of childhood NOE exposure, significantly worse mental health." Based on 3585 participants in four European cities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22 May 2019

Loughborough University study reveals how Forest Schools can benefit children's development

Forest Schools are a growing phenomenon in the UK, but what impact does getting children outside of the classroom have on their overall development? Researchers at Loughborough University hope to find out. Sustainability Exchange, 20 November 2017.

Natural England: health & the natural envirnoment

30 different publications all looking at the impact of being outdoors on physical and mental health. Natural England, 2017 and earlier

Three-quarters of UK children spend less time outdoors than prison inmates – survey

Article on a survey that found that time spent playing in parks, woods and fields has shrunk dramatically due to lack of green spaces, digital technology and parents’ fears. The Guardian, 25 March 2016

Concerns raised over number of children not engaging with nature

Two-year study finds more than 10% of children in England have not been to a natural environment in the past 12 months. Includes ‘Five ways to engage children with nature’ section. The Guardian, 10 February 2016

Combating Obesity in Head Start: Outdoor Play and Change in Children’s Body Mass Index

‘Outdoor play time at Head Start is associated with decreases in children’s BMI scores and, thus, may serve as an important means of preventing obesity. Head Start programs should consider establishing clear guidelines encouraging more outdoor time.’ NCBI (US), October 2015

Green spaces and cognitive development in primary schoolchildren

‘This study, based on comprehensive characterization of outdoor surrounding greenness (at home, school, and during commuting) and repeated computerized cognitive tests in schoolchildren, found an improvement in cognitive development associated with surrounding greenness, particularly with greenness at schools.’ PNAS (US), 30 June 2015

Wild Child: 33 Evergreen Benefits of Outdoor Play

‘A collection of quotes & research on nature’s role in child development.’ Inspirational infographic on the benefits of nature on health and wellbeing. AAA State of Play (US), c2015

Kids whose time is less structured are better able to meet their own goals, says CU-Boulder study

‘Children who spend more time in less structured activities are better able to set their own goals and take actions to meet those goals without prodding from adults. University of Colorado Boulder (US), 18 June 2014

Less-structured time in children’s daily lives predicts self-directed executive functioning

“These findings represent the first demonstration that time spent in a broad range of less-structured activities outside of formal schooling predicts goal-directed behaviors not explicitly specified by an adult, and that more time spent in structured activities predicts poorer such goal-directed behavior.” Fully referenced research presented on Frontiers, 17 June 2014

Well-being benefits of play at Fort Apache, Torbay

‘Research focus: to find out more about any wellbeing benefits gained by the children and young people from their play in Fort Apache and which aspects facilitate this wellbeing. It also looked at how best to carry out ongoing action-research in an open and accessible play woodland site such as Fort Apache.’ Part of the Good From Woods Project, 2013

Children’s play and leisure: promoting a balanced approach

Statement from the government’s Health & Safety Executive (HSE), created with the Play Safety Forum, which includes key messages including: when planning and providing play opportunities, the goal is not to eliminate risk, but to weigh up the risks and benefits; those providing play opportunities should focus on controlling the real risks, while securing or increasing the benefits – not on the paperwork. Health & Safety Executive, September 2012

Green Time for Sleep Time: Three Ways Nature and Outdoor Time Improve Your Child’s Sleep

More time in natural settings can help a child get fresh air, be healthier, feel better, and even get a higher quality of sleep. Connecting Kids & Nature: special report from from the National Wildlife Federation (US), c2011

Why our children need to get outside and engage with nature

Article on a survey that finds that more and more children today have less and less contact with the natural world, and this is having a huge impact on their health and development. The Guardian, 16 August 2010

Children should be allowed to play in the dirt

“Children should be allowed to play in the dirt because being too clean can impair the skin’s ability to heal itself, new research suggests. Scientists have discovered that bacteria on the surface of the skin play an important role in combating inflammation when we get hurt.” The Telegraph (behind a paywall), 23 November 2009

Resurrecting Free Play in Young Children: Looking Beyond Fitness and Fatness to Attention, Affiliation, and Affect

“Our purpose in this article is to demonstrate why play, and particularly active, unstructured, outdoor play, needs to be restored in children’s lives. We propose that efforts to increase physical activity in young children might be more successful if physical activity is promoted using different language—encouraging play—and if a different set of outcomes are emphasized—aspects of child well-being other than physical health.” The JAMA Network, January 2005