Reconnecting children and natureThink back to your favorite
childhood experience. For many, it’s being outside on a quest to
build a fort in the woods, ride your bike, or freely explore the
neighborhood. By: Amy Reineke, Public Health Educator,
Alexandria Echo Press Think back to your favorite childhood
experience. For many, it’s being outside on a quest to build a
fort in the woods, ride your bike, or freely explore the
neighborhood. Today, instead of hiking, biking and climbing
trees, children are more likely to have limited direct
experience with the outdoors and nature. If they are outside, it
is more likely to be in organized sports, on playground
equipment or being shuttled from activity to activity. Research
indicates that one of the best medicines to a stressful
lifestyle is to spend time in a natural setting outdoors.
Children who spend time outdoors are likely to be happier,
healthier, smarter, more cooperative and more creative. Children
need leisurely, unscripted and exploratory hours to find the