8 ways green space improves children’s mental health

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), an estimated 20 million children in the U.S. can currently be diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Being outside sparks joy in kids and can improve their overall mental health. In fact, scientists have determined that children’s stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green space.

Here are just eight ways global research proves that exposure to green space – including in our own backyards, community parks, and school yards – helps kids:

• Empirical research over the last 40 years identifies positive associations between nature activities and well-being in children and youth, including self-esteem, confidence, positive/negative affect, stress reduction, and resilience.
• A systematic, scoping review of research indicates that elevated levels of screen time in children are associated with depression, anxiety and stress while green time tends to be associated with positive mental health, better cognitive functioning, and improved academic achievement.
• A recent study found an association between green space and fewer instances of anxiety and depression in early childhood, suggesting a sensitive period for nature exposure.
• Primary students in Germany with more natural window views in their classrooms reported less perceived stress and more attention in class than students with fewer natural window views.
• ·An Australian study revealed that students spent more time on-task in outdoor classrooms versus indoor ones.
• Children with more access to natural areas as well as more perceived nature in the home and school environment had lower stress levels, suggesting that nearby nature bolsters children´s resilience in dealing with stress.
• Results of a study of rural children in grades 3-5 showed the impact of life stress was lower among children with elevated levels of nearby nature than among those with little nearby nature.
• Children in the UK who spent just one hour per week learning outdoors showed significant, immediate improvements in mood and longer-term improvements in well-being.

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