The Importance of Nature

"A growing body of research attests to the importance of access to nature -- even if only a small patch of trees on marginal urban land -- for human health and well-being,"writes Louise Chawla in the Bernard van Leer publication, Living Conditions:  The Influence on Young Children's Health (www.bernardvanleer.org).  Some research findings cited by Chawla:

• Studies show links between access to nature and ability to sustain concentration, delay gratification and cope with stressors.
   
  
• Ethnographic observations of children's play show that games are more imaginative and creative in natural habitats.
   
• Play in nature has been found to promote physical agility and social confidence.
   
  
• Natural environments tend to encourage play that is gender-neutral or that brings boys and girls together.
   
  
• Natural play fosters a deep sense of connectedness to the larger universe of living things.

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