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The body of evidence keeps growing – nature is good for children and really good for the brain! Spending time in nature is actually essential for children’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. It’s an unfortunate reality, childhood has moved inside. Research is showing that the average American child spends just four to seven minutes in unstructured outdoor play each day, and more than seven hours each day in front of an electronic screen. While technology is surely here to stay in the lives of young children, we do know these early years are prime for rapid brain development. What young children need to learn, they learn best by interacting with people and the real world. In this workshop we’ll explore the role of nature and experiences with natural materials on development. How are problem-solving, thinking skills, social competence, and physical development enhanced by experiences in and with nature? We’ll consider some intriguing concepts such as why dirt is good for the body and how simply adding green spaces will help to enhance the wellbeing of young children and the people who care for them.
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