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Time outdoors is the answer to the mental health crisis we see in kids today
Kids today are spending more time on screens — and facing rising rates of anxiety, depression and loneliness. “We need an antidote to that, and we can find one in time outdoors,” writes Outdoors Alliance for Kids founder Jackie Ostfeld in this part editorial, part call-to-action. Ostfeld argues that nature can help reconnect children to themselves and the world around them — something she champions through her work as director of the Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign. As the Sierra Club works to expand access to parks, green schoolyards and affordable outdoor experiences for families, it has also launched a youth essay contest — because kids, Ostfeld suggests, are “closest to the crisis and the answers.” Sierra.
Read MoreThe start of a movement? How time outside can alter our nation’s health
Nature may (should!) soon join sleep, nutrition and exercise as a pillar of public health. At the first National Executive Forum on Health and Outdoor Recreation in Washington, D.C., healthcare leaders and nature connection advocates gathered around a growing body of research showing that time outside measurably improves human health. “We have evidence,” said Dr. Michael Suk. “We’re not in the space of saying, ‘I wish I could prove this.’” In addition to honoring Children & Nature Network co-founder and author Richard Louv with a lifetime achievement award, the event highlighted research linking nature exposure to lower rates of myopia, improved mental health and reduced healthcare costs. One big takeaway? Encouraging outdoor recreation — from walking to camping — may be one of the most practical public health tools we have. Deseret News.
Read MorePink basketball courts, a hair braiding station and a butterfly garden
Across New York City, green schoolyard transformations are supplanting asphalt with features that combat flooding and heat islands — and giving third-graders their first taste of agency. As schools reimagine playgrounds as vibrant community spaces, the students help design schoolyards that reflect what they want and need, surveying classmates and working with landscape architects and city leaders along the way. Their ideas often solve problems adults overlook. At one Bronx school, girls asked for a pink basketball court. “Of course, anyone could play there,” writes Tamar Renaud, New York State director at Trust for Public Land. “But the boys tended to avoid it, and the girls finally had an equal chance to play basketball in their yard.” The 74.
Read More95% of parents say nature is essential for kids. So why are families stuck inside?
American families haven’t stopped wanting nature-rich childhoods — but getting outside feels harder than ever. A new survey found that while 95% of parents believe nature is essential for childhood development, only about a third of families get outside together multiple times a week. Meanwhile, more than 1 in 4 children get at least five hours a day of recreational screen time. Parents cite packed schedules, the high cost of recreational experiences and gear, and a lack of nearby nature as major barriers. “The outdoors has become something aspirational rather than automatic,” the article notes. Stacker.
Read MoreDavid Attenborough turns 100 — and generations of people celebrate
Happy 100th birthday, Sir David Attenborough! From London’s Royal Albert Hall to classrooms and cinemas, children and families everywhere celebrated the naturalist who introduced generations to the wonders of wildlife through programs like “Life on Earth” and “Blue Planet.” On Attenborough’s recent birthday, children at one English infant school dressed as animals, insects and explorers in his honor. Elsewhere, an illustrator created a hand-painted thank you note, sharing how Attenborough’s documentaries helped her previously nonverbal son begin speaking. “I would just like to thank Sir David for helping my son let us into his world. For sparking such interest and curiosity in him and so many other children.” PBS News.
Read MoreHow a former water treatment plant transformed into a living classroom
What do microbes, carnivorous plants and beaver pellets have in common? At WaterWorks Environmental Learning Lab in Hartselle, Alabama, they’re all part of the hands-on adventure. In 2011, the innovative program transformed a former water treatment plant into a living classroom where kids and families can explore wetland trails, peer through microscopes and learn about everything from filter feeders to microplastics. Old water tanks now teem with frogs, turtles, insects — and soon, pitcher plants and sundews. The goal, says director Kelly McInnis, is simple: Spark curiosity and help every visitor fall in love with nature, one wetland at a time. Hartselle Enquirer.
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Richard Louv
VITAMIN N FOR THE SOUL: How Nature Can Nourish the Spirit of Children and Adults
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Network News
Prescribe Outside: Progress moves at the speed of trust in Philadelphia
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Voices
Nature to screens: How our built environment set the stage for the anxious generation
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We’re all looking for the same moon
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Forest bathing: Educators need nature connections, too
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