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.
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.
