Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/the-restorative-benefits-of-nature-on-mental-health/5022552/
My 17-month-old son, Otis, is not the easy second child that my friends jokingly promised me. Beginning with Milk Soy Protein Intolerance (MSPI), progressing into food allergies, and concluding his first year of life with two hospitalizations, Otis had — despite being surrounded by an adoring family — a rough start to life. Even during his healthier phases, he tended to be perpetually cranky, always a little emotionally off-kilter.
Until we took him outside.
Our first wintry walk was born of desperation. Colic kept Otis screaming for hours each evening, so finally I wrapped him in a cocoon of blankets and carried him around the block. He settled down almost immediately and stayed calm until we returned to our toasty living room. Whether it was the change of scene or the bracing fresh air, I’ll never know. But those walks were a lifesaver for both Otis and for me, his fatigued caregiver.
Now, more than a year later, my husband and I notice many positive effects of Otis spending time outdoors. When he’s moody or mid-tantrum, we plop him down with a stick in our backyard and let him dig to his heart’s content. On vacation at a Florida beach, we rarely heard a ...