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Saturday, March 3, 2012

Importance of Nature in Children's life.

March is here but still cold.  Children are curious, how snow is melting and then again comes back some of the days. They are enjoying the hide and seek game of snow.They go out in our secret garden, where our Dinosaur  lives (pretend play  with the large Tree). 
Along with children i am also learning about the behaviors of birds and little animals.As children grow we also grow with them. Process of learning never stops. It's wonderful to watch children learn through their imaginative play and  be creative and curious. As  scientific evidence shows the importance of children's interaction with nature, i would also like you all to read this article. http://lhhl.illinois.edu/adhd.htm

The Importance of Children’s Interaction with Nature: 
A growing body of literature shows that the natural environment has profound effects on the well being of adults, including better psychological well being, superior cognitive functioning, fewer physical ailments and speedier recovery from illness.  Research is also providing convincing evidence of the more profound benefits of experiences in nature for children due to their greater plasticity and vulnerability (Wells & Evans 2003).  

Nature buffers the impact of life stress on children and helps them deal with adversity.  The greater the amount of nature exposure, the greater the benefits (Wells 2003).


Children who play in nature have more positive feelings about each other (Moore 1996).



Children who play regularly in natural environments show more advanced motor fitness, including coordination, balance and agility, and they are sick less often (Grahn, et al. 1997, Fjortoft 2001).



Outdoor environments are important to children’s development of independence and autonomy (Bartlett 1996).