Children's experience with nature and outdoor play. Nature nurtures development.

Nature and children cannot be separated. Whenever we let a child play outside they love to jump in puddles, walk in rain, find bugs and snails as well as love to play in mud and on trees.As Dr.Tedd Mitchell say, "If you can't get to a pond or lake, then find a puddle".

Children are born with a connection and an innate attraction for nature. If an infant is fussy and we take him outside ,the child usually calms down, seeing leaves moving, observing nature.Nature has soothing effects on children and adults as well. As Richard Louv says," Kids who play in natural areas--- those with bushes and trees---have been shown to engage in more creative and cooperative play". If a child is provided ample and regular opportunities for unstructured play,specially outdoors then they are likely to have a greater chances of being more cooperative with others, as well as much happier,healthier and smarter kids.

Researchers at children's hospital of Philadelphia has reported this study. A survey of teen participants in wilderness program found that their interaction with nature enhanced their self esteem, confidence and intiative.Which shows that teens as well can benefit from nature. Parents usually think that if a child is in sports he is active and has enough play time,but when it comes to their mental and physical well being, children need something else. Nature! they need to interact with nature.children's medical and mental health experts affirms that deep forests or natural parklands can be the best playgrounds for children. 

As Richard Louv's wonderful book, "last Child in Woods: saving our children from Nature_Deficit Disorder". Through which he brings into attention how much our children are getting disconnected from nature. Although it is because of  many reasons we are disconnecting our children from nature  such as safety,security, time,lack of natural spaces, more traffic and many other. Researchers noted that from 1997-2003 there was a drop of 50% in kids who participated in outdoor activities such as hiking,walking,cycling,fishing according to a study performed by the University of Maryland.

Government is also trying to support reseachers point of view by acknowledging their hard work to bring awareness among people about the importance of nature in the lives of children.In some states,including Connecticut,california,and Maine,have launched initiatives to get more young people outdoors.And on the Federal level, the pending No Child Left Inside Act seeks to provide funding for environmental education.Although some work is in progress towards saving the children from Nature Deficit disorder but still it needs lot to be done.
I was very keen to learn how  children and parents (participants of my project study) give views about outdoor play and how much is their involvement with their children in outdoor activity.I interviewed 15 parents 7 on internet and 8interviews were face to face.Also i did 7 individual interviews of children age between 3 to 11yrs old and 2 group interviews age 2 1/2 to 4 yrs old. I did use photoelicitation technique, and talked in very informal setting in my daycare where children are very comfrtable talking to me.All of the children were my current and previous students.It was an interesting experience.I got diverse views on outdoor play and children's experience with nature.I developed a questionnaire of 12following questions for parents.
1.What do you think by term play?
2. Why Play is important for children?
3.What kind of play you recommend for children?
4.What do you think of outdoor play vs. indoor play?
5.What children should play outside?and also what is best play for indoors in your opinion?
6.Do you mind if your child play in dirt and explore nature?
7. Do you think outdoor play enhances social and emotional development of children?
8.What kind of play do you play with your children?
9.What does your child play at home?what kind of toys, equipment he uses most and loves to play with.
10.What activities you do together as family?
11.What do you think how much average time chidrenshould spend in outdoor activiyg?
12 What do you think of safety and security issues that are hindering children's outdoor play Now a days?If you fear about it how does you overcome your fear? and let children enjoy outdoors.

I focused my interview question around my hypothesis,"Outdoor Play and Nature Enhances Social and Emotional Development".Keeping in mind my theory i developed following objective questions.

* In my study population how do parents and children define the term play?

*  What strategies are appealing to the children in regards to outdoor play and nature.

* What activities families prefer to do together as family, outdoors.

The responses i recieved from parents, that fall into the category of my first objective question were very similar. To majority of the parents term play was unstructured & enjoyable activity which is a source of fun to children.Play realeses energy in them and it promotes mental and physical growth in children as well as enhances social development.It also keeps children active and creative.

 Responses to my second objective were quite diverse.50% of the responses were about playing sports. Which keeps children healthy physically  and mentally. It should be organised sport.15% said  Our children enjoy video games and computer games and they are very smart because they play video games.And it stimulates their brain. 30% responses to my second objective was according to the researches done which shows the how important outdoor activity and nature's role is in the life of  children. 25% responses were about children's liking for total outdoor play and interaction with nature is the best strategy to be used in terms of children's growth and development. But 100% of parents responded similar, that children must get  dirty and explore nature and children love to be outdoors in woods/creeks.Exploring nature provides vast learning opportunities to children. i agree with that response and believe we must provide children opportunities to spend more time outside to explore the nature and have some unstructured and independent play time.

 Response to my third objective question again was diverse. Usually mothers do not play with children and Fathers are to some extent are invoved in physical play with children in  outdoors and indoor play.Majority of the parents take children for sports and play some kind of sport with children. While indoors they watch movies together or play some board game but mostly children play by themselves.But walking was common in every response,a small group does take children for camping and hiking and explore nature together with children. It was interesting to know how parents interpret play. Where as play in terms of researchers is an unorganised activity that promotes creativity and imagination and give a child independence and true joy of heart.Play also supports children's interaction with nature. 

If we recall our childhoods we will see ourselves playing outdoors most of the time and interacting with nature, climbing trees,finding frogs in ponds and swamps,looking for beehives and somtimes getting stung by the bees, climbing roofs, I remember whent in wind storm some baby birds die and fall off of the tree me and my brothers would bury them and make their graves and if some puppy or cat is weak and hungry we would take some milk from home and feed them and our mom use to laugh and sometimes get mad that we feed the kitties and puppies and later they do not leave our house. Our parents use to take us for hiking and morning walks every day. Every sunday was a picnic day. But do children have it all now a days.No! for that matter we have to bring awarness about the outdoor and nature's importance in our lives.

"There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in."

                                                Graham Greene ,The power and The Glory (1940)