Give children the gift of time; time to investigate, to explore and to wonder; time to get lost in their work and to work until they are finished.
– Ellen Veselack et al, (2015)

International Mud Day, June 29, is just around the corner. What better time to consider the many benefits of (re)connecting ourselves within the natural world!

In her article, “The Language of the Senses: The Power of Sensory-Rich Outdoor Play and Learning Spaces for All Children,” Jena Ponti Jauchius writes, “We are always dialoguing with nature, though as adults we tend to be less aware of its magic and power.” If that’s the case for you or someone you know, a growing body of research catalogs this magic and power in compelling ways:

The American Psychiatric Association shared a 2024 report concluding, “access to green space was associated with improved mental well-being and overall health. Additionally, the study found that access to green space promotes memory, supportive social groups, and self-discipline, moderates stress, and improves behaviors and symptoms of ADHD.”

Ponti-Jauchius’ article, available as an Exchange Reflections discussion guide, points out the sensory benefits as well, including:

“Play, children’s primary activity, is one complex, sustained multi-sensory experience. The more types of sensory experiences, with varying degrees of intensity, the more information children’s bodies process, and the more developed their systems become.”

This affirms research by Dr. Sam Dennis and colleagues for Dimensions Educational Research Foundation, which found the most positive benefits in nature-rich outdoor classrooms that “(1) maximized choices, (2) provided many distinct spaces, especially child-sized ones, (3) embedded play affordances within pathways and borders, (4) encouraged spatial evolution, and (5) supported ongoing stakeholder engagement.”

Additional research can be found at the Dimensions link above and at The Children and Nature Network Research Library.

Ready to bring nature to the heart of your program? Join Jena Ponti Jauchius and others at the Nature Explore | Outdoor Classroom Project Leadership Institute, July 14-17, Arbor Day Farm, Nebraska City, Nebraska