Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell
Credit Webster, Unsplash

Today’s story comes from Good News Network.

Spending Time in the Great Outdoors Helps Children with Mental Health Issues, Says New Study

By Andy Corbley–

It’s new news, old news, and news that can never be repeated too often: spending time in nature reduces emotional distress among troubled 10-—to 12-year-olds.

The Canadian researchers behind the new study say their findings suggest that an inexpensive school-based, nature-born program may help the most vulnerable youngsters.

Canadian researchers discovered that spending two hours a week of class time in a natural environment can reduce emotional distress among child participants who had the most significant mental health problems before the program began.

The research, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, follows the recent publication of a UNICEF report pointing to the importance of green space for children’s development.

The Canadian team looked at the effects of spending time in nature on the behavior and mental health symptoms of more than 500 schoolchildren across Quebec in the spring of 2023.

“The idea for the project came up during the pandemic when people were worried about the health risks of children spending so much time inside the school each day,” said study senior author Professor Marie-Claude Geoffroy of McGill University.

They found that at the end of three months, teachers noted that the most significant changes in behavior occurred in children with the most important problems at the outset. These included anxiety and depression, aggressivity and impulsivity, and social issues relating to interaction with their peers.

Interviews with the teachers following the program also suggested that children were calmer, relaxed, and attentive in class after spending time in nature.

“This suggests that nature-based programs may offer targeted benefits for children with higher levels of mental health vulnerabilities and potentially act as an equalizer of mental health among school-age children,” co-author Professor Sylvana Côté from the University of Montreal added.

The research builds on earlier observational studies but is the first to use a randomized controlled trial—the gold standard of medical research—to provide concrete information about the benefits to children of spending time in nature.

All the schools involved in the study were within a mile of a park or green space, and half of the children stayed in school while a similar number took part in the nature-based intervention.

“My kids and I spend lots of time in parks, so I’ve seen the benefits of spending time in nature, both for myself and them,” added Professor Geoffrey. “So, I thought maybe we can have a free and accessible intervention where school children can spend time in nature, and we can measure the effects this has on their mood and behavior.”

During the two hours they spent in the park each week, teachers were asked to offer regular classes in math, languages, or science.

They were also asked to incorporate a 10—to 15-minute activity to promote mental health, using examples drawn from a teachers’ kit designed by the research team.

The activities included drawing a tree, writing haikus, and mindful walking.

Study first author Tianna Loose, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Montreal, added that the intervention was low-cost, well-received, and posed no risks, making it a promising strategy for schools.

The good news here is something we all could have guessed, but it is now a matter of science. Today’s JohnKu talks about intuition. I hope you have a glorious weekend.

Our Gut by John W. Howell © 2024

If we listen well,

Our intuition gives gifts . . .

Be thankful for that.

72 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News”

  4. It’s wonderful that research has confirmed what we’ve known to be true experientially! Since the advent of the Internet Age, I’ve been concerned that children lack a connection to nature.

    Like

  7. This is a fine example of scientists catching up with something educators and parents have known for years. That’s not a criticism, just an acknowledgement that their conclusions are on target, and perhaps will serve to encourage people who haven’t experienced the positive value of time in nature for themselves.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. I love this, and I hope the study inspires more schools to include time in nature for kids. And I like that the program included “mindful walking.” So the kids can have time away from lectures and assignments and simply be there.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. This seems like such a no-brainer, but glad to see it is working. Goes back to our parents sending us outside to play. You cannot beat the great outdoors–Mother Nature does know best. 🌳🌼

    Liked by 1 person

  13. I completely agree. We kids used to be outside all the time before the age of cell phones and computers and were much healthy for it. It’s surprising that you now have to SCHEDULE time for your kids to be outside.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Wonderful ‘good news’, John. When we were kids, we all lived outside most of the time. Even now, I escape into nature. It is my relief and my hope. Loved your JohnKu! 🌞

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Thank you for this, John. I’ve often thought that the mental health of young people would be tied to their access to nature: the less access they have, the greater challenges to their mental health. I hope more projects develop from this one.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. You know, this really doesn’t surprise me. I come from the generation whose parents insisted we “go outside and play” every chance we got, and we didn’t suffer for that. Today’s poor kiddos are glued to their devices … to their mental, physical, and emotional detriment. (Oops, I’ll slink off my soapbox now!)

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  22. It worked wonders for my two while I was homeschooling them. We’d do school at the park quite often then play afterwards, and my son loved reading up in our Ash tree in the backyard. He and his cat would read and daydream up in the tree for hours. It also increased the number of books he read.

    I hope more and more schools adopt spending more time outdoors.

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  23. This one has me cheering! Seems a no-brainer however it is helpful to have some solid evidence supporting the benefits of nature and there have been some recent books written about the troubling nature deficit in children’s lives. Thank you for this share, John. 🌳

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  25. My experiences with children support the notion that it’s beneficial for children to work outdoors. When possible, I tried to come up with some form of discipline that included working outside such as picking up trash or sweeping the sidewalk. Not only do kids contribute something positive that way, but you begin to change the narrative of how children see themselves.

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  26. LOVE this story! I think Professor Geoffrey was totally on to something. Nature makes vulnerable young and old alike feel better. It’s exactly why my walks with the dogs are so critical to mental health. I’m convinced everyone needs to ‘take 5’ outdoors multiple times a day. We’d all feel better and be happier.

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  28. I agree that scientific studies of things we could have all guessed are valuable. Evidence is much better than a guess or a gutfeeling. So many people make comments like “we did not need a study for that….” about studies of things we all could have guessed. But sometimes studies have surprises in store, so do them.

    Anyway, it is not surprise. I grew up in northern Sweden, which is very sparsely populated, like Alaska I guess, and I spent a lot of time in the forest as a kid. I remember that very fondly.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I can imagine youer childhood would have fond memories in the place you described. I grew up in Detroit Michigan in the city. I too have fond memories of spending the days outside. It was just a different kind of forest.

      Liked by 1 person

  29. Interesting how humans need studies and reports to to tell us what we already know in our guts.

    Your JohnKu reminds us , we have our animal instincts to help guide us.

    Shut your phone off, and go for a walk in the park, or the art gallery.

    🌳𝔁 🎨𝔁

    Liked by 1 person

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