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.
How to leave the world a little better. When I started blogging in 2014 ,I read amylynnandrews blog.She wrote a very useful newsletter called useletter. She talked about creating original content online;not just rehash of existing content.
But I had a problem.
The health topics I wrote about often had extensive write ups on educational websites.
On looking deeper I found they were often(if not always)written by content experts or influencers not interested in the topic with expertise in writing, not necessarily a professional or expert in the medical field.
How to leave the world a little better
On big sites these articles were reviewed by Doctors or other Healthcare professionals . I knew what I wanted to contribute to make my website and blog create it’s own little space in the very cluttered online World. That started the journey of Healthwealthbridge 10 years ago. Spreading awareness and education digitally wad my goal and I think I am on the right path to make the world a little better.
Trying to go carbon negative Since 2020 we have planted more than 500 trees and that’s something which made me really happy.Trees are the most selfless living things ever.Mother Nature has gifted us with tree friends wherever we go .My daughter knows books and plants are her mom’s favourite gifts and is my favorite partner in in nature walks.That I think is a good thing to get started on.
Making active lifestyle fun is my dream.In 2013 we shifted to a small town in West Bengal.A rented apartment with no common area,play area ,gym ,pool or a garden, I felt stuck indoors.While buying a home in Kolkata we found a lovely community housing offering not only great location,infrastructure but all of the above.But we couldn’t shift to Kolkata right away.Before 2020 my hubby simply didn’t have time to visit the village home 20 km away.I was always asking about it,but it was rented out and going there on weekends seemed impossible.
A perfect weekend
COVID pandemic lock down and my husband realized the prison like feel of the modern apartment house. He jumped into action mode and in October of 2020 we started renovations in the village home and buying a small plot for our kitchen garden and a community garden area with friends for play time with kids ,friends and family.Its not easy and it’s not a project which is ever done.But we are doing the best we can.We made the best of a truly horrifying situation and decided to make a change for good.
Gift of Green:From Balcony Garden to Mango Orchard
Continuing to actively work for restoring gardens,forests, community gardens,nature walks and spreading the message of good health with nature is my way of leaving the world a bit better for the future.
There’s something about art.Be it writing,singing,dancing, doodling,painting,crafting,sculpting sewing,making furniture or anything creating something always puts me in a place of calm happy.
Growing up I heard a lot about mental health and illnesses arising from it on both sides of the family. That was a driving force behind me studying to be a doctor.While eventually surgery being my favourite subject I did my post graduation as an ENT surgeon, taking care of my mental health has always played a very important path.
I never stopped reading and researching with my own head being a laboratory of sorts.I loved reading from a very young age.That has been a constant companion for me since forever.I don’t want to be without a book anywhere.It stops me from making foolhardy decisions,from being bored.
Yellow Alamanda
But writing and now painting has absolutely changed the course of my mind.I almost feel there’s been a chemical reaction inside the brain and I do my professional work better because of it.
Doctors need to be healthy. Just like everybody else.But taking care of illnesses can be physically and mentally taxing .That’s why it’s always better not to be too emotionally involved .Because then rational decisions become difficult.
Shalo paddmoWatercolor of Shimul leaf
But how much is caring and when does caring too much start?How will we build that border in the brain?How to switch off the doctor mode and get into the mommy mode?That was unchartered territory for me as a mom.
I felt emotionally raw ,uber sensitive and unable to cope. Didn’t feel I was doing what I studied so hard to become. Felt overwhelmed, underappreciated,overworked,sleep deprived and out of control.That was 2012,2013,2014.I was walking on my treadmill almost daily but no other fun exercise or play time.Story books were possible only when the little one slept and we did art stuff together.
Tree of life:Seeing trees and painting trees keep me alive
In late 2014, something changed.I started balcony gardening.Life looked better.I had help and support,more than many people.I was working ,but not coping well with sleeplessness and night duties.In fact, I was heading for a collapse.In 2018 both of us resigned from our Government jobs at Malda Medical College. It was a clean cut.I realized dreams change and shift perspective as one grows a few wise brain cells.Its not easy making the sudden shifts which appear as crossroads in life,but nothing worthwhile ever is.
In COVID things took another turn. Homebound I started writing stories and doing more watercolour,mithila art,and while trying to cope decided to renovate the village home. Dilapidated and neglected that home and the garden has changed our lives forever.So the pandemic brought art closer to my life and I grew roots in a mango garden.
But what is Art therapy?When you use art(drawing/painting/crafting/sewing/sculpting/dance/music) in any form to calm the mind down and find your flow its art therapy.Kids respond very well to the calming effect of art .My daughter and I have drawn and painted together since she was two years old. I am so glad I did that because it has made her a much calmer and confident young girl than I ever was.
In 2021 with a few friends we invested in small plots of land to plant trees in.We roamed in mango garden, played in the village fields on weekends.Gift of Green is real.
Mango season means we pick carefully.A few unripe ones for the amer tok or aam dal.Perfect for hot summer days.This is fruit from the Garden we planted in 2022 .Imagine a tree only 2-year-old has started to bear fruits.
It looks difficult until you do it.The journey towards nature is a journey towards wellness.Fruits you grow yourself just taste better.Plus the kids have so much fun participating in this ,that I never have to tell them “don’t cut trees”.
We have come a long way.I started balcony gardening in 2014 and my Balcony Garden helps me during the week.I tried hydroponics too in 2020, but it’s not sustainable for me. During the weekend ,the village gardens are where we hang out.Walking,playing and dreaming
Nature Therapy is not new.It’s not rocket science either.But simple things and simple solutions means people don’t take it seriously enough. The biggest loser in the fast race to unplanned urbanization are the people.We need to focus on making our villages,small towns self sufficient, so that the green is maintained. Inspired by @blogchatter to share the story.
Mental health disorders which are affected mainly include
depression disorders
anxiety
cognitive impairment
dementias
Alzheimer’s disease
schizophrenia
Autism
While pharmacological treatment is the first choice for mental disorders to alleviate the major symptoms, many antipsychotics contribute to poor quality of life and debilitating adverse effects. Therefore, clinicians have turned toward to complementary treatments, such as art therapy in addressing the health needs of patients more than half a century ago.More work is needed but the horizon shows hope.
I am the prettiest of them all
…said no flower ever.Lesson to learn -Humility. Flowers are absolutely stunning and they have zero airs.Imagine humans being that grounded! It’s difficult to balance self confidence and self-worth while staying humble.Another thing flowers do with grave.
God give me grace and humility.
Something to add to my bedtime prayer routine.Writing this with #BlogchatterHalfMarathan #gardenwisdom #healthwealthbridge #gardeningmoments
A lower connection to nature is related to lower mental health benefits from nature contact Chia-Chen Chang # 1 2, Brenda B Lin # 3, Xiaoqi Feng 4 5 6, Erik Andersson 7 8 9, John Gardner 10, Thomas Astell-Burt 5 11 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38509180/
Nature-Based Therapy in Individuals with Mental Health Disorders, with a Focus on Mental Well-Being and Connectedness to Nature—A Pilot Study Lilly Joschko,1 Anna María Pálsdóttir,1 Patrik Grahn,1 and Maximilian Hinse2,* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9914984/
The Effects of Nature Exposure Therapies on Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Levels: A Systematic Review Diana Marcela Paredes-Céspedes,1,* Norida Vélez,1 Alejandra Parada-López,1 Yesith Guillermo Toloza-Pérez,1 Eliana M. Téllez,1 Claudia Portilla,1 Carolina González,2 Leany Blandón,2 Juan Carlos Santacruz,2 and Jeadran Malagón-Rojas1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10969128/
It started in 2020.But the seeds were planted in my childhood. I had a school project,where we had to take care of a small flowering plant,over a few months and bring it to school,as the project submission.
It was winter and I bought a pansy plant.I coloured the pot ,talked to the plant and it flowered.It was a yellow brown pansy flower with their cute butterfly shaped flower.What I didn’t know was that the hollow stems of pansy plants, made them sensitive to even little birds hopping on them.A sparrow hopped on the flowers and my pretty plant had fractured stems.
Flowers in my Garden
The submission date was soon and I was sad that this happened and then I put cellotape on the stems and within a weeks time they looked so much better. I had another new flower blossom just before the day of submission. I told this story during presentation and my project came first.It sounds simple but my worry that week was another level.You can’t bargaining with nature.
My teacher said while many of the other plants looked smarter,prettier and had more flowers,mine looked like it belonged to a family and not from a nursery.
Lessons I learned about plant care then was going to be my lifelong friend.
The garden we planted in 2020 is our greatest pleasure during all seasons now.We stay there for quiet weekends,we host picnics,parties and sometimes just visit in the evening for chai and gup-shup or for playing badminton.
The flowers are always ready to smile and bloom for us and nourish us with their produce .
Conservation starts at home
Steps for Conserving Nature
Conservation and sustainability go hand in hand.We plant local plants and trees.Not exotic varieties which can cause trouble.
Planting a mix of flowers, fruits and vegetables ensure we have a sustainable garden not just a pretty one.Remember plant what you eat or what you like looking at,is not just as an investment,it’s a way of life. It needs to be a balance.
Restoring barren lands and preventing trees from being cut down is a thing we do as a group of friends. Again sustainable with friends.Plus more fun.
Share your nature gifts ,so that kindred souls might have their passions ignited.
Don’t stress it, but do it as a project.Small steps at a time.Focus on your home,family home,ancestral village ,community park,community spaces and see how things improve one day at a time.
Conservation is not just for the future .It’s today.My daughter wrote this script Go Green plastic is obscene .
Madhabilata,Plumeria, orange Ticoma and Yellow Alamanda in one frame.Planted in January 2021 ,it’s been three and a half years of having them in our life.Thankful,Grateful,Blessed🙏
