Children and nature, a fantastic combination for your physical and mental health

Until recently, children spent much of their time playing in the street, in the countryside, constantly experimenting outdoors and in direct contact with Nature. Building cabins, hiding treasures, climbing trees or running and jumping were everyday practices and there was no word "boredom."

At present, the children remain in closed places for many hours, sometimes without natural light, in a small space, sitting, with programmed activities, with few possibilities for street play and too connected to electronic devices. In many cases, leaving the urban center and interacting with the natural environment becomes something sporadic and exceptional.

On the other hand, today's society has oversized the possible risks and dangers that "threaten" us in Nature and, on the other hand, minimizes those generated by the urban lifestyle. So much so, that this has given rise, among other causes, to the emergence of the "biophobia" concept , which consists in having an irrational fear and with no concrete motive towards Nature.

The psychologist Heike Feire, author of the book " Educate in green ", says in an interview published by the blog " Educate for the Human " that "we live in a world where everything has to be perfect, clean." It seems that Nature is dirt, disorder. But it gives us life. We bury ourselves alive in excessively clean spaces. Studies on child development indicate that children at home are as much or more dangerous than outside. Overprotected children face dangers worse. ”

And it is that people are not prepared for this forced withdrawal from Nature, let alone to live only in artificial environments. This disconnection with the natural environment is called " Nature Deficit Disorder " and among the effects it can produce in the population, and especially in children, hyperactivity, insomnia, obesity, and even decrease in vitamin D levels

Performing outdoor activity provides balance and tranquility. It has been the original and habitual location of the human being throughout practically all its existence. For thousands of years we have been evolving in direct relationship with our environment, which until a few decades ago was completely natural. As hominids, our organism and our mind are designed to live in Nature. It was in the wake of the Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth century when large cities began to be built, artificial habitats that today have ended up "locking up" people, separating them from the natural context.

Benefits of contact with Nature

Contact with Nature is beneficial in all aspects of children's lives. It not only helps prevent obesity, reduce stress and increase self-esteem; It also increases concentration and school performance. In addition, cognitive functions, social skills, leadership and collaboration skills, lung capacity, breathing, appetite, rest, and respect for the environment improve considerably if we spend more time outdoors.

There are more and more scientific studies with conclusive results that support these claims. In this regard, the works of Frances E. Kuo, director of the Landscape & Human Health Laboratory of the University of Illinois (USA), who have been studying with their team the direct relationship between Nature and health, stand out for more than a decade. According to Kuo “a walk in the park is more than a good way to spend the afternoon. It is an essential component for good health ”, and adds that“ just as laboratory animals that live in environments outside their natural habitat suffer alterations and disorders that affect their social functioning, the same thing happens to people ”.

On the other hand, the so-called “ forest baths ”, Shinrin-Yoku in Japanese language, have been practiced in Japan for a while, which consist of living the experience of walking through centuries-old forests while connecting and interacting slowly, densely and intense with the environment through the five senses. These “forest baths”, which must always be carried out under the supervision of an expert, not only benefit us from the fact of doing an activity in Nature, but are also being used to improve the situation of people With certain health problems. The most prominent research on Shinrin-Yoku is currently led by Yoshifumi Miyazaki, Doctor of Medicine at Tokyo Medical and Dental University, and Qing Li, President of the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine at Medicine Nippon Medical School in Tokyo.

School and family are the two areas in which the child spends more time throughout his childhood. Therefore, it is important that Nature is present in both. In the school context, a revolutionary teaching concept is being progressively implemented in central and northern Europe, are the Bosquescuelas.

In them, students develop their studies and outdoor activities, in constant interaction with the natural environment. The idea is not new, it is even over a hundred years old. In fact, one of the great pioneers was Barcelona's Escola de Bosc, inaugurated in 1914 and located in the Laribal Tower of Montjuïc, where classes were taught outdoors and subjects such as body expression and music played an important role. The Escola de Bosc, revolutionary in its teaching system, followed in turn the educational philosophy based on direct contact with Nature that had previously implemented in Germany the Waldschule schools of Charlottenburg, the Plein Air in France and the Open England Air Schools

Regarding the family environment, a fabulous way of doing health is to go out and enjoy nature together parents, children, grandparents…. And it is not necessary to make great trips or long excursions. Simply move to the right place and collect pineapples, sticks, observe plants and insects, photograph animals, throw stones at a river or turn logs and branches into fun toys. It is even very healthy to climb a tree, wallow on the ground or put your feet in the water when crossing a stream. Of course, without compromising our physical integrity, but without seeing dangers where there are none. Nature has to be respected but not afraid, and for this the ideal is to know it. And to know it well, nothing better than to enjoy it intensely in a habitual way.

It should not be forgotten either, that in order to establish real connections between children and Nature, a community and political effort is required in order to promote green areas, generate related activities, improve accessibility, and develop campaigns Education and citizen promotion.

Natxo O atibia, Ester Corrales Baz

Source: HEADLIGHTS

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Children and nature, a fantastic combination for your physical and mental health