Experience nature and play outside | Education

Experiencing nature in its purest form is the greatest adventure of a child's life. Nothing, not even the best computer game, can give children the same experiences that they have when playing outside. We have known for a long time that playing in nature is healthy and important, and there are studies that prove it.

Experiencing nature strengthens self-confidence and creativity

Brain research has come to the conclusion that contact with animals and plants is fundamental, as is being active in nature, from climbing trees to building a tepee. This experience of nature promotes emotional bonding, empathy, and creativity, imagination and joy of life are strengthened. In short: playing in nature makes our children more social, compassionate people.

Children experience themselves through play and movement

When you experience nature, you experience yourself. Where are you more in tune with yourself than when you're strolling through wide fields, watching frogs in the streams or playing hide and seek in the forest? Children find and test their limits when playing freely in nature, and get to know each other better, regardless of whether they don't get as high up into the treetops as their best friend when climbing trees.

Nature brings children back to their roots, to their own selves, something that no television can do. Thus, the experience of nature also strengthens children's self-esteem and self-confidence in the long term, which are important elements in our performance-oriented society. Experiencing nature should therefore be on the curriculum of all schools!

Experiencing nature means following human needs

Children who play outside follow the most basic instincts of humanity. People are inspired by a love of life - nature is a mysterious oasis of life for children, here they can observe, research and learn to their heart's content, nowhere else does life become more concrete and tangible than when experiencing nature. Children outside literally hold life in their hands. In America, the land of once unlimited possibilities, people are already talking about a nature deficiency disorder in children, a term coined by Richard Louv. The fact that this term exists alone shows how important it is for our children to spend time outdoors, in meadows and fields, in the forest or even in the garden! So give your child plenty of hours outdoors so that they can experience themselves and nature.

Playing outside makes children happy

When I think back to my own childhood, I remember spending a lot of time outdoors. I played with the neighborhood children in the meadow, we looked for sticks and leaves in the forest. We swung so high up we felt like we were swinging. Regardless of whether it was warm or cold outside, sunny or rainy - I always played outdoors and created whole worlds with materials from nature.

A lot has changed since then. Many children today prefer to watch TV and play computer games rather than go out into the fresh air. Parents need to take the initiative to teach their children the joy of playing and exercising in nature and playing outside, even at an early age.

In addition, playing in the fresh air and being close to nature is good for the immune system, which is largely built up in childhood. This is why even adults benefit from being able to play outside a lot as children, as they are less susceptible to infections and colds.

Numerous problems arise when children spend most of their time indoors. More and more children are becoming overweight because they don't get enough exercise. If you add a high-calorie and unhealthy diet to this, the risk of children developing lifestyle diseases such as type 2 diabetes increases.

The concentration span also decreases when children are constantly exposed to media input and are not given the opportunity to compensate, for example through playing and exercise in nature. This stimulates brain activity, allows blood and oxygen to circulate better in the body and thus naturally promotes the child's concentration.

Another positive effect of playing outside is that the little ones are simply more balanced when they are allowed to let off steam regularly. The reason for this is the happiness hormone serotonin, which is released during physical activity. Who wouldn't prefer a happy child to a whining one?

However, some things don't change: If you manage to lure the children outside and they romp around on the playground or run around in the woods, scratches and bruises are inevitable. Their clothes aren't always left unscathed.

When children are using their bodies to their full potential, their clothes quickly get damaged. As parents, we have to mend the clothes. There are now various online shops that offer colorful, funny iron-on patches and patches. With such beautiful motifs, parents are happy to get over a tear in their jacket or pants. It's great that some things just don't change.