Why do we need nature play more than ever before?

A changed world

Some of my favourite memories as a child were going to build cubbies in the vacant block down the lane, fishing for tadpoles in the local creek and climbing a big long line of pine trees, going all the way from one end to another. Ask any adult and they will have similar memories of adventuring outside as a child. Today most children don’t have these same freedoms for extended nature play and are missing out on critical learning and development opportunities. Bigger houses on smaller blocks or apartment living mean many children don’t have backyards or the same access to green space.

Rising sensory and motor issues in children

Since the 1980s the average time spent outside has changed from an average of 4-6 hours per day to 45-90 minutes per day. Teachers and occupational therapists are seeing a massive increase in sensory and motor issues in children such as decreased attention span, stamina and strength and increased fidgeting, aggression, anxiety, susceptibility to colds. Children in general have worse posture, are more frail, have greater trouble reading and fall down more. They also have more trouble regulating their emotions. Angela Hanscom, a leading occupational therapist in the field, explains that due to the lack of time spent playing outside, children aren’t developing their vestibular system or getting the necessary sensory input required for good physical development. Nature play is the ultimate sensory experience; it forces us to use all our senses every time we step outdoors. When children play in nature there are a multitude of physical benefits. Aside from the aerobic exercise and resulting cardiovascular health, running around on uneven or steep ground improves balance and proprioception. Climbing and building cubbies improves flexibility, muscular strength and endurance and many of the tasks in Forest School or Bush Playgroup improve fine motor skill as well.

Screen time is a big factor in reducing time that kids spend outside. The average Australian 5-year old has two hours of screen time a day, going up to 3-4 hours for 12-13 year olds. 60% of children’s screen time is TV, which is very passive. Every minute that a child spends watching TV is a minute that they could be learning through play. While gaming on devices provides some learning opportunities, it is different from solving problems through outdoor play, using a combination of senses, physical skill and cognition.

Sustainability/environmental awareness

The world is in the hands of our children and there has never been a time in our history when they have been more disconnected from their natural heritage. We need our children fall in love with the Earth once more and we can do this by exposing them regularly to its beauty, its rawness, its fragility and its wonder. By playing in nature, children naturally connect with what they see, feel, hear and smell all around them. Most, if not all of the worlds’ environmental activists were exposed to nature at early ages and given opportunities to really fall in love with it.

Mental Wellbeing

Stress and anxiety are rife in young people today. Taking them outdoors and spending time playing are proven ways to decrease stress. I know from personal experience that my mental wellbeing is greatly improved by spending time in nature, even if it is just going for a simple walk at the end of the day in the bushland plot near my house. There is also a growing body of research showing the positive impact that being in nature has for children with ADHD or those who have experienced trauma in their lives. Nature play can be a therapeutic way for children to deal with negative experiences in their lives, to process emotions and come to terms with painful situations.

Play Principles

All children need to play. As outlined in the UK Charter for Children’s Play, free play is essential for their development, enjoyment and their health. It is through play that children develop their culture, their relationships, their strengths and their understanding of world around them. In modern society however, many children are so busy with extra-curricular activities that they don’t have many opportunities to play or be bored. While these extra-curricular activities no doubt have their own benefits, they may not allow for the same development of creativity, fitness and wellbeing that playing in nature brings. Play also helps children to learn to manage their own risk and work out boundaries as they explore their world. Most of all, play is fun!

Aboriginal connection and understanding

I grew up in a time when our Aboriginal heritage was largely ignored. Thankfully, we are starting to have a much stronger appreciation for a beautiful culture and people who lived in this country for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. We are learning how Aboriginal people used the land and took such amazing care of it for so long. We are learning their stories and about their many traditions. While personally I still have a long way to go in understanding Aboriginal culture, I respectfully and gratefully acknowledge that they are the traditional owners of the land where I live and hope that I can bring a little more understanding into peoples' lives through the workshops that I do.

AN INNOVATIVE WAY TO LEARN THAT CATERS FOR ALL

Nature is a great leveler when it comes to academic success. Children who are disengaged or who struggle in the classroom, often excel when it comes to outdoor lessons. Different children shine in different ways, because there is often no right or wrong way. It also engages students because it is real and relevant to their lives immediately.