Why is nature essential for kids?I am doing a personal research on the effect on green spaces on mood ,relationship and creativity since 2014.
I started gardening and blogging in October of 2014 and I haven’t stopped.What kept me going was this need for seeing things grow .
The good bacteria in nature in their own way helps you grow your immunity.Sunlight is essential for good health. But overall the effect of mother nature,soil and green trees ,flowers ,birds,butterflies in a backdrop of blue sky is like your recharge button.
Thats the reason I visit the village home on weekends .It gives me a much needed boost of wellbeing, that nothing else can.
You might wonder,why not visit a park?You might wonder,what about your balcony garden?Why not the green mango orchard , where we play every Sunday evening?
Well they are all important and play a role in my weekly dose of nature.But every week is not the same.Plus there’s something about the silence of birds,bees and untamed nature .The silver moon lights up the night sky ,the sparkling stars keep her company while my garden gets ready to go to sleep.
The tiny village house has four rooms. Two for our use and two for when my brother in law visits with his family.The common kitchen and small covered porch cum dining space is perfect for sitting and enjoying a cup of tea in the morning. Or sometimes we just sit outside in the garden.Since there are no high rises,there’s no one watching you .
There are only chirping of birds,bleating goats,moo-ing cows and the occasional raucous village dogs trying to get rid of outsider dogs!
The sweet smell of flowers,golden sunlight and the very blue blue sky dotted with the green canopy of Moringa,Mangoes,Ticoma,Coconut and Neem greet my eyes as I look upwards.
The open terrace gives an uninterrupted view of green almost forested areas, which are but forest gardens receiving a watchful neglect from their owners.Too much clearing up is avoided,to prevent poachers and illegal settlers from encroaching. Its a complex balance of clearing up as well as letting nature be.From my eleven years experience in taking kids for visits to garden,orchards,fields and nature holidays I share my insights into why nature is essential for kids.
Why is Nature Essential for Kids?
It helps develop intelligence
Empathy
Curiosity
Adaptation
Community
Appreciate beauty
Discover practical application of science
Realize science is not just a subject humans invented but its how God works .
Realize we are what we eat
Realize your energy depends on the energy of the food you eat.An apple or a candy?
It helps then understand why farmers are the backbone of a nation.
They understand about growing food and eating fresh.
They understand cooking is not just something Maa does.Its something everyone needs to do, to stay healthy.
They understand going back to nature is the best way to beat big food and big pharma.
They realize nature never stops working and karma is a way of life.
They realize flowers bloom in the morning to wilt in the evening .But next day another flower will still bloom.That’s karma do your work,pray to God and keep going.
They understand about cycle of life,the eternal soul and inner peace.
They understand true wealth are your health,the people around you,the land where you grow food and the ability to work and earn a living.
For that matter nature is essential for adults too .We are a part of nature and we all need to realize this.
(Why science says green time matters for growing minds)
When you think back to your own childhood, what memories feel most alive? Chances are they involve open skies, trees, muddy hands, or the thrill of catching butterflies. Science now confirms what our hearts already knew — nature isn’t just nice for kids; it’s essential.
From stronger mental health to better learning and creativity, research from around the world has shown that green time is powerful medicine for children’s bodies and minds. Here’s what the science says — in five minutes or less.
🌱 1. Nature builds healthier, happier children
A landmark systematic review in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found consistent links between time in nature and children’s physical activity, emotional well-being, and social development. Children who regularly play outside move more, sleep better, and report higher happiness scores.
Key takeaway: Kids who spend at least 60–90 minutes outdoors daily have better overall health profiles — regardless of screen time or socioeconomic status.
🧠 2. Greener spaces support brain development and focus
Multiple studies show that access to trees, parks, and gardens helps children think and learn better. In Italy, Asta et al. (2021) tracked children from birth to age 7 and found higher cognitive scores among those living near greenspaces. Similarly, Saenen et al. (2023) demonstrated that long-term exposure to green areas improved working memory and attention.
In practice: Even short outdoor lessons or recess in green schoolyards can improve concentration and academic performance.
💚 3. Nature soothes anxiety and lifts mood
A 2024 systematic review by Lomax et al. found robust evidence linking nature exposure with reduced anxiety, depression, and stress in children and adolescents. Tillmann et al. (2018) confirmed that accessibility, exposure, and active engagement with nature all correlate with better mental-health scores.
Think of nature as a “mood vitamin.” Even a half-hour in the park can restore calm and resilience after a busy school day.
⚡ 4. Nature time helps attention and ADHD symptoms
Classic experiments by Taylor et al. (2009) found that children with ADHD concentrated better after a walk in the park compared with a downtown stroll. Population studies (Donovan et al., 2019) also link greener neighborhoods with lower ADHD prevalence.
Pro tip: Schedule “green breaks” — 15-minute park or garden walks — before homework or study time.
🪴 5. Early exposure matters most
Early-life exposure to green environments predicts fewer behavioral problems and stronger cognitive outcomes in preschoolers (Dockx et al., 2022). This means planting a tree, walking to school through a park, or keeping plants on balconies truly adds up over time.
🌍 6. Why every community needs child-friendly green space
Nature isn’t just about individual play. It’s about public health and equity. Jimenez et al. (2021) showed that green exposure benefits extend across ages and income levels, but access remains unequal. Sprague et al. (2022) emphasize the need for urban planning that brings safe, nearby natural spaces to all children.
Policy note: Greening schools and neighborhoods is one of the simplest, evidence-backed ways to improve children’s health worldwide.
🧾 In a nutshell:
Benefit
Supported by research
What parents can do
Better mental health
Lomax 2024, Tillmann 2018
Outdoor play & family park days
Improved focus / ADHD
Taylor 2009, Donovan 2019
Nature breaks before study
Enhanced cognition
Asta 2021, Saenen 2023
School garden projects
Stronger physical health
Fyfe-Johnson 2021
Active outdoor games
Lifelong resilience
Dockx 2022, Jimenez 2021
Regular green exposure from early years
🌻 Ready to begin? Download your free “7-Day Nature Challenge for Kids” checklist!
Each day includes a 10- to 30-minute nature-based micro-activity you can fit into any schedule — perfect for busy families.
✅ Take-home message
Nature is not optional — it’s foundational for healthy childhood development.
Even small, daily doses of green time yield measurable benefits for mind, body, and mood.
As parents, teachers, and communities, investing in children’s connection with nature may be the simplest, most cost-effective public-health strategy available.
“If we want children to flourish, we must give them time to touch the earth, smell the rain, and watch things grow.”
References (PubMed/PMC): Fyfe-Johnson AL et al. 2021; Lomax T et al. 2024; Tillmann S et al. 2018; Donovan GH et al. 2019; Taylor AF et al. 2009; Asta F et al. 2021; Saenen ND et al. 2023; Dockx Y et al. 2022; Sprague NL et al. 2022; Jimenez MP et al. 2021.
I can’t stop at five so here goes my favorite fruits with the top five in order.
Mangoes
Oranges
Mosambi/Sweet lime
Black grapes
Jaam/Indian black berry,black plum or java plum
Bananas
Guavas
Water Apple/Rose apple/Jamrul
Mulberry
Jackfruit
But secretly a fruit platter is my favorite way to snack .I even wrote a book about all the fruits I like and their nutrition secrets .It’s called Fruits for Life |What your Doctor Won’t Tell!
I grow mangoes,chiku,water apple,banana, tute(mulberry),jamun, litchi,jackfruit,guavas and papaya. Each of these fruits taste amazing when plucked and eaten fresh.
West Bengal has the perfect climate for growing the sweet tropical fruits which are delicious straight from the tree.
Sharing videos of the fruits I grew.
Mango garden
Mulberries in the balcony garden
Fresh Guavas
Starting a Home Garden
Water Apple
I even wrote a wellness book on gardening,walking and writing .
Abstract:This is an observational study drawing from the author’s own experiences and her peers working in a small town in West Bengal While the small towns and villages suffer from lack of quality healthcare,the cities are overcrowded.Young doctors are often at a loss about their career path and personal life.Earning a living as a qualified professional in a city is getting exceedingly difficult.Physical quality of life for doctors are on a constant down hill when it comes to their own mental and physical health.Lowering the stress of living,livelihood and helping those who need your help most might help Medical professionals find balance in this exceedingly chaotic world .
Keywords
Medical practice setup,quality of life,quality of life for doctors,healthy doctor,wellbeing for doctors,physical quality of life
Adopt a small town and live there?That’s the unexpected life decision that changed my life topsy turvy .It was the moment of truth and I took a long look inside to see where exactly I wanted to go.But before I go forward,I have to go back.Way back.
Growing my dream garden
In the early 2000s when I joined Calcutta Medical College, I knew what I wanted from life.A Medical teaching job in the WBMES(West Bengal Medical Education Service)after getting my post graduation done.Marriage and baby somewhere in between( if so blessed).But I didn’t really think of marriage ,because I wasn’t sure how that would work out with the career I was planning.
Well God has his own plans and luckily for me,marrying my best friend from college was the turning point in my life.He helped me find my inner compass and my daughter was born, the compass pointed in only one direction.
My daughter needed me .My daughter needed both her parents around .This meant my grand plans needed realignment. I didn’t give up. The Medical teaching job though needed giving up.
I loved teaching.I loved seeing the light of comprehension in bright,young faces when something hit their brain just right.But the juggling with on-call night duties broke the proverbial camel’s back.My husband’s transfer to another town ,was the tipping point when I got off the camel !
In all this we continued living as a family in the small town close to the village my husband grew up in.Its well connected by rail and road.It has my in-laws close by and since it’s a small town ,you don’t have long commutes.Luckily we found a CBSE school we could send our daughter to and we could continue to build our private practice .
Life is slow.But you can earn a living living a quiet life.I am not a mall-hopping person.But I miss the swimming pool in my Kolkata housing complex.But my weekend visits to the village home help me in more ways than one.Its a reset button .It’s a chance for forest bathing and we look forward to this eagerly.
That’s not something we could have done in a bigger city.Plus we started reforestation in a few plot of land we bought with friends during COVID and that’s where we play cricket and badminton on weekends.I didn’t get my swimming pool,but I did get a very green mango orchard to sit dreaming in.I will forever be a Kolkata girl at heart,but Malda gave me a chance to discover myself and that’s my home .For now .Because you never know where life takes you.
Conclusion: When you set up your professional practice,do it at a place you can imagine living in and growing old.This is not a one size fit all solution but a way to slow down and do the work you want to do while getting off the hamster wheel.Don’t give up your city practice to suddenly go and live in a village or small town.Test it out first.Its also easier for those who have family and roots there.Its a way of giving back to the soil,family,society who helped you become who you are.
I am participating in Blogchatter A2Z 2025 and also the April Ultimate blog challenge and you can find all the April posts here. This is a S post.
References
Shankar, Kiran, et al. “DO MEDICAL GRADUATES PREFER TO WORK IN RURAL AREAS? – A FOLLOW UP STUDY OF OLD STUDENTS OF A PRIVATE MEDICAL COLLEGE IN TAMILNADU.” Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences, Akshantala Enterprises Private Limited, 2013, doi:10.14260/jemds/1330.
Sheikh, Kabir, et al. “Location and Vocation: Why Some Government Doctors Stay on in Rural Chhattisgarh, India.” International Health, Oxford University Press, 2012, doi:10.1016/j.inhe.2012.03.004.
Saini, Narender K., et al. “What Impedes Working in Rural Areas? A Study of Aspiring Doctors in the National Capital Region, India.” Rural and Remote Health, Deakin University, 2012, doi:10.22605/rrh1967.
Behera, Manas Ranjan, et al. “Living Conditions, Work Environment, and Intention to Stay among Doctors Working in Rural Areas of Odisha State, India.” Annals of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, Medknow, 2018, doi:10.4103/atmph.atmph_338_17.
Kinchagulova, Miliausha Vainerovna, et al. “Research of the Motivation of Future Doctors to Work in Rural Areas and Small Towns.” Manager Zdravookhranenia, 2024, https://doi.org/10.21045/1811-0185-2024-9-112-120.
Sheikh, Kabir, et al. “What Rural Doctors Want: a Qualitative Study in Chhattisgarh State.” Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, Forum for Medical Ethics Society, 2016, doi:10.20529/ijme.2016.040.
Vallikunnu, Vinod, et al. “A Qualitative Study on Working Experience of Rural Doctors in Malappuram District of Kerala, India.” Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Medknow, 2014, doi:10.4103/2249-4863.137643.
Saha, Somen, and Harshad Rathod. “Shortage of Doctors in Rural Health Centers: Empirical Evidence from Gujarat.” International Journal of Medicine and Public Health, EManuscript Services, 2012, doi:10.4103/2230-8598.108394.
Thayyil, Jayakrishnan, and Mathummal Cherumanalil Jeeja. “Issues of Creating a New Cadre of Doctors for Rural India.” International Journal of Medicine and Public Health, EManuscript Services, 2013, doi:10.4103/2230-8598.109305.
Sapkota, Bhim Prasad, and Archana Amatya. “What Factors Influence the Choice of Urban or Rural Location for Future Practice of Nepalese Medical Students? A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study.” Human Resources for Health, BioMed Central, 2015, doi:10.1186/s12960-015-0084-5.
I wrote about the Miyawaki forest few years back and now Kutch in Gujrat has the right example of it grown in four years by India’s green hero Dr.Radhakrishna .K. Nair.
When we visited Udaipur,Jodhpur and Jaisalmer this December we were surprise to see how green the cities were.Infact the once green West Bengal is way greyer in it’s urban areas then ever before compared to Jodhpur.No wonder the April temperature is soaring!
I knew what a Miyawaki forest was but had no idea about Dr Nair and how he had created the world’s largest such forest in India.
At a time when the U.S has taken sustainability off its priority list I am just grateful that we have such heroes amongst us…
A Japanese method where there’s multiple benefits to environment and population. It includes –
Rainwater conservation,
soil conservation,
environment conservation,
carbon absorption increases,
lowers local temperature,
increased oxygen supply,
water conservation
Ecological conservation and biodiversity enhanced
Provides employment
Provides green cover
Reduces temperature
overall helps environment fight drastic climate change and build for a sustainable future
He has built the largest forest in Kutch which is part if a Memorial for the 2001 Bhuj earthquake victims .The Smriti Van.
More than six lakh trees of 117 varieties are planted here.
He is also behind the largest Miyawaki forest next to a seashore at Nargol.
When I saw this tweet/X by MrAnand Mahindra,I couldn’t help but share this .
Afforestaty by Suvendu Sharma and Gourav Gurjar are a team of forest entrepreneurs who are creating urban Forests all over the world .Their series on creating Forests is available on youtube. They are generously sharing the knowledge they gained and I hope more and more people come forward.
Do you know about forest bathing?Is that even a thing?It’s a Japanese thing and it’s called shinrin-yoku.But when I started falling in love with my green friends,I didn’t know,this was even a thing!
I never visited a village before I was married.The closest to forested land I ever went was Alipurduar (Boro mashir bari).It was lovely with a pond full of fish ,mango and coconut trees everywhere.
After marriage my hubby’s home was in a small village in Malda.Surrounded by mango gardens ,it was quaint,comfy,serene …but falling apart.Like family homes with multiple owners,this was struggling to survive.Belonging to many but owned by none meant ,it’s maintenance was becoming a nightmare.We visited occasionally during Durga Puja but never stayed .
It was 2020 and world went into COVID lockdown.This was something none of us had ever seen or heard of.
Things flipped on its head during COVID lockdown. I felt caged inside the apartment house.My husband had a brain wave,the village home would get a revamp .My brother-in-law agreed and together they managed to restore the old home,build a new roof,raise a perimeter wall,a swing,a slide,a basketball ring,around 50 trees planted and a kitchen garden started.
The village home and garden:My plant friends who keep me green!
That was then and from 2020 to 2025 we have managed to plant around 500 trees as a family along with friends. We also managed to save around 50 mango trees from being cut down.But all this takes lots of blessings and money.But is not always profitable in the economic sense.
But if it means primordial prevention and money spent preventing developing conditions that cause illness…we did good.
This year we harvested our first tomatoes
We didn’t look back.The village home garden is my favorite place to spend the weekend .
My friendship with trees,started with the jackfruit tree in the home backyard in Kolkata,followed my Balcony Garden ,village home garden and then the mango orchard.Its an interesting journey and I hope my tree friends continue to help me make my little town and village greener.
Did you know light filtered through the green canopies filter out the harmful blue light and the green trees not only make the garden shaded, but just the right kind of sunny for you.These days since too much blue light exposure is behind a lot of health issues may be a stroll down a leaf lined park/road is just what you need for good health.On this World Health Day wishing you good health and happiness
If you want to know more about forest bathing ,check out this article
I am participating in Blogchatter A2Z 2025 and also the April Ultimate blog challenge and you can find all the April posts here. This is a F post.
Posted On: 25 NOV 2024 8:39PM by PIB Delhi The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the launching of the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) as a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
The scheme has a total outlay of Rs.2481 crore (Government of India share – Rs.1584 crore; State share – Rs.897 crore) till the 15th Finance Commission (2025-26).
The Government of India has launched the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) to promote natural farming in mission mode across the country as a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
Rooted in the traditional knowledge inherited from their forefathers, farmers will practise Natural Farming (NF) as a chemical free farming which involves local livestock integrated natural farming methods, diversified crop systems, etc. NF follows local agro-ecological principles rooted in local knowledge, location specific technologies and is evolved as per the local agro-ecology.
NMNF aims at promoting NF practices for providing safe & nutritious food for all. The Mission is designed to support farmers to reduce input cost of cultivation and dependency to externally purchased inputs. Natural farming will build & maintain healthy soil ecosystems, promote biodiversity and encourage diverse cropping systems to enhance resilience as suitable to the local agroecology are the benefits of natural farming. NMNF is launched as a shift to scientifically revive and strengthen agriculture practices towards sustainability, climate resilience and healthy food for farmer families and consumers.
In the next two years, NMNF will be implemented in 15,000 clusters in Gram Panchayats, which are willing, & reach 1 crore farmers and initiate Natural Farming (NF) in 7.5 lakh Ha area. Preference will be given to areas having prevalence of practising NF farmers, SRLM / PACS / FPOs, etc. Further, need-based 10,000 Bio-input Resource Centres (BRCs) will be set-up to provide easy availability and accessibility to ready-to-use NF inputs for farmers.
Under NMNF, around 2000 NF Model Demonstration Farms shall be established at Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Agricultural Universities (AUs) and farmers’ fields, and shall be supported by experienced and trained Farmer Master Trainers. The willing farmers will be trained in Model Demonstration Farms on the NF package of practices, preparation of NF inputs, etc. near their villages in KVKs, AUs and practising NF farmers’ fields. 18.75 lakh trained willing farmers will prepare inputs like Jeevamrit, Beejamrit, etc. by using their livestock or procure from BRCs. 30,000 Krishi Sakhis/ CRPs will be deployed for awareness generation, mobilisation and handholding of willing farmers in the clusters. Natural Farming practices will help farmers to reduce input cost of cultivation and dependency on externally purchased inputs while rejuvenating soil health, fertility & quality and building resilience to climate risks like waterlogging, flood, drought, etc. These practices also reduce health risks from exposure to fertilisers, pesticides, etc. and provide healthy & nutritious food for the farmers’ family. Further, through Natural Farming, a healthy Mother Earth is bequeathed to the future generations. Through improvement of soil carbon content & water use efficiency, there is an increase in soil microorganisms and biodiversity in NF.
Farmers will be provided with an easy simple certification system and dedicated common branding to provide access to market their natural farming produce. Real time geo-tagged & referenced monitoring of NMNF implementation shall be done through an online portal.
Convergence with existing schemes and support structures of Government of India/ State Governments/ National & International Organisations shall be explored for enhancing local livestock population, development of NF Model Demonstration Farms at Central Cattle Breeding Farms/ Regional Fodder Stations, provide market linkages at district/ block/ GP levels through convergence for local farmers’ markets, APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) Mandis, Haats, Depots, etc. Additionally, students will be engaged in NMNF through the RAWE program and dedicated Undergraduate, Postgraduate & Diploma courses on NF.
