What is a green space? How is it relevant to my child?
Green spaces are any areas that are partly or heavily covered in vegetation (trees, grass, shrubs, plants, etc). Science shows that even looking at green spaces can lead to fewer negative thoughts and more positive emotions.
Evidence-backed impacts of green spaces
A study exploring the effects of outdoor lessons found that 30 minutes sessions outside helped children focus. In class, teachers experienced a 50% reduction in interruptions due to outdoor lessons. Time in nature also has other immediate health benefits such as:
- Lower cortisol, blood pressure, and heart rate variability
- Improved mood, short term memory, and concentration during a test
- Better ability for children to stay focused and motivated during a lesson
- Lower risk of psychiatric disorders, depression, and suicide
Indirect benefits
Living in a green space encourages children to exercise more often. Exercise can equip children with tools to be a better learner by positively impacting their spatial learning, executive function, and working memory. Living in a green space also indirectly reduces your exposure to air, sound, and light pollution, which is linked to reduced anxiety and depression.
Green spaces can trigger neurological processes
Sights and sounds in nature signal to our brain to relax and that we no longer need to pay attention. In turn, we can recover faster from mental and physical fatigue. Some researchers hypothesize that being in nature elicits positive emotions and is intrinsically rewarding. They theorize that nature visuals have implicit emotional impacts, which makes us less likely to focus on personal problems.
You don’t have to live in a green space to experience its benefits
If you don’t have the mobility to access green spaces, you can still reap their benefits. Regular trips to public parks, nature spots, and conservation gardens can replicate the effects of living in a green space.
Sources
https://www.parentingscience.com/green-spaces-benefit-mental-health.html
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