Words & Photos Vanessa Lee, Storyoga
The welcome arrival of spring naturally calls us to spend more time outdoors. The earth is waking up and new life is buzzing all around. For children, nature is the perfect playscape for exploration, growth and learning. The possibilities are endless in capturing the curiosity and attention of such growing minds. Spending time in nature not only offers a myriad of benefits to children’s physical development, but more importantly offers a safe haven where children can feel supported and grounded as they deepen their connection to themselves, each other, and the world around them. Nature has so much wisdom to offer if we look and listen.
Physically, spending time in nature supports children’s gross and fine motor skills as they explore climbing, balancing, walking and
running on a variety of terrains. The opportunity for risk taking increases, allowing for children’s confidence, competence and self-esteem to grow.
Mentally and emotionally spending time in nature increases focus and concentration while sparking creative and imaginative play. A stick can become a magic wand or fishing rod, pinecones and pine needles ingredients for making nature soup or mud pies, rocks the perimeter for building a campfire, and branches can be used for the building of a fort or the making of a nest. Language and literacy blossom and social connections flourish through open space and unstructured play. Children have their own agency in creating games and stories with collaboration, critical thinking and problem solving all at play.
“When children play in natural spaces, they’re far more likely to invent their own games than in more structured settings – a key factor in becoming self-directed and inventive adults later in life.” – Richard Louv
As we look to nature, we are surrounded by cyclical wisdom and lessons that can be seen and felt throughout. From the rooted quality of a tree we can learn how it feels to be grounded and connected in our own bodies alongside the earth. From spiders’ webs we can learn patience and the interconnectedness of all living things. From the finding of a snail or frog we can learn how to be gentle and kind. From the budding of new flowers we can learn how to be mindful and to tread softly on the earth. Spending time in nature allows children (and adults) to tune in to the natural cycles, to pause, slow down, breathe deeply, and marvel in the everyday wonders of this beautiful world. And better yet, as we learn to sync our inner system with nature, we may just find that we are presented with the perfect conditions to co-regulate.
By design, nature’s pace and presence is deeply nourishing and supports our nervous system in many ways. Nature calms our senses and offers a peaceful place to regulate our emotions. Furthermore, Angela J. Hanscom writes from her book, Balanced and Barefoot: “Letting children play outdoors away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life provides respite. It gives them a break from the constant routine, the ‘hurry up we are going to be late’ requests; bright colours, noxious smells and noise and commotion that the man-made world has created.” Spending time in nature can reduce anxiety, improve mood and promote overall feelings of wellness. Nature becomes our friend and the container for finding our centre.
While the benefits of spending time in the outdoor world are many, perhaps the most important is that it offers us all the opportunity to return to childhood. A world immersed in creativity, imagination, freedom and joy. May we all make a little time and space to access this inner place.
