The development of a quality educational program for children should include outdoor activities such as exploring natural environments, which are beneficial to children and contribute to improving children’s learning, health and wellbeing. To meet these needs, some education and care services…

Two research studies about gardens in schools and garden based learning: 1. School gardens in the city. Does environmental equity help close the achievement gap? Summary   School gardens could serve as gateways to reducing the academic achievement gap The aim of this study w…

Two studies about how prescribing more time outdoors or in a park can help in healing process for children. 1. Outdoors Rx Summary   Pediatricians and families respond positively to a prescription program promoting increased outdoor physical activity for children Outdoors Rx is a…

Summary   Lifestyle factors, including time outdoors, explain prevalence differences in children with myopia This study involved a multiethnic cohort of 5711 six-year-old children living in a densely populated area of the Netherlands. The aim of the study was to examine whether differe…

ABSTRACT The emerging interest in “spaces of childhood” over the past two decades can be identified across numerous disciplines. A substantial body of research has indicated that children's active engagement within the natural environment is associated with a range of cognitive, p…

Previous human studies have suggested that early life exposure to microbes (i.e., germs) is an important determinant of adulthood sensitivity to allergic and autoimmune diseases such as hay fever, asthma and inflammatory bowel disease. This concept of exposing people to germs at an early age (i.e…

Developing and implementing a Nature Kindergarten provided new opportunities for students and teachers to deepen their connections with place. ABSTRACT This article describes the planning and implementing of a Nature Kindergarten in the Sooke Public School District in British Columbia, Canada.…

SAN FRANCISCO - As the number of smart phones, tablets, electronic games and other handheld screens in U.S. homes continues to grow, some children begin using these devices before beginning to talk. New research being presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting suggests these children…

Key findings A majority of Australian children are spending more than the recommended two-hour daily limit for screen time (watching television, on computers and playing electronic games). At 4–5 years old, children average more than two hours screen time per week-day. By 12–13 yea…

ABSTRACT This article addresses the effects of a risk-averse Western society on healthy childhood development. Forest and nature schools are specifically identified for their inclusion of outdoor risky play. Forest and nature schools are presented as idealized venues to investigate and understa…