Where to start? Your own childhood may be a good place. Think about those happy times when you were young and played (often unsupervised) in the bush, or dabbled in a creek or climbed in a tree. The benefits of those experiences may not be tangible, but, intuitively, we all know they were an important part of our upbringing.
Kidsafe WA summarised some of the current research in the area of Nature Play. Some of those points are provided below:
Children who play regularly in natural settings are sick less often. Mud, sand, water, leaves, sticks, pine cones and gumnuts can help to stimulate children's immune systems as well as their imaginations.
Children who spend more time outside tend to be more physically active and are less likely to be overweight.
Children who play in natural settings are more resistant to stress; have lower incidence of behavioural disorders, anxiety and depression; and have a higher measure of self-worth.
Children who play in natural settings play in more diverse, imaginative and creative ways and show improved language and collaboration skills.
Children who play in nature have more positive feelings about each other.
Bullying behaviour is greatly reduced where children have access to diverse nature-based play environments.
Symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder are reduced after contact with nature.
From the Sunday Times 8 May, 2011
.jpg)
Media Release dated 27 June, 2012
Our links page will direct you to other websites giving more information CLICK HERE