Why time in nature needs to be part of your ‘Covid back to school’ plan

Spending time in nature enables wellbeing. The more time we spend in nature, the calmer and more content we become. So, if you’re getting ready to send the kids back to school, and everyone’s anxiety is ramping up…. Look to nature for a simple, free and reliable solution.

Noticing nature

We’ve been travelling around Australia for almost two years now and spend much more time outdoors, despite the weather. We notice the way the shadows change during the day, the reflections on the river, or the white caps on the ocean if it’s rough. We seem to appreciate the way the wind caresses the long grass and how the leaves gently drift towards the ground. It’s not that we never noticed these moments before, but now it feels like we have more time and space in our lives to fully appreciate them. This noticing is the antidote to back to school stress.

Why time in nature is good for us

The studies are clear. Spending time in nature enables wellbeing for kids and families who invest in it. What I’ve noticed is that the more time my kids spend in nature the better they are at navigating the everyday stressors, like school, friendships, and family dramas.

When children are out in nature their attention isn’t being bombarded by beeps, click bait or parents demands. Their little brains get a chance just to rest and become mindful again. When given the opportunity to follow a butterfly across a garden our kids brain pays little attention to anything else. It’s refreshing, relaxing and provides their brain with the down time they very often lack. Particularly after the juggle of working and schooling from home and everyone’s conflicting demands, some time in nature may be the antidote we’re all craving.

When out in nature, share the idea with your kids that the rivers are impermeant, the stars are older than time, the mountains have been shaped by the wild environment around us. The trees seed, grow and die in a way the gives life to everything around them. When we’re surrounded by nature, be it trees, mountains, desert, beaches, valleys, or snow, our worries and concerns become smaller in comparison to the natural world around us. Help your kids notice that the trivial things that take space in their mind are often of no consequence to the ebb and flow of nature. It’s a beautiful reminder of what matters most, both for us and them.

The benefits of time in nature

The more time we spend in nature, the more likely we’ll be able to:

  • manage our daily stresses more effectively
  • increase our ability to focus and concentrate
  • improve our general mood
  • reduce anger and fear
  • boost our physical health and immune system
  • develop more social connections
  • build self-confidence and
  • feel relaxed, free, calm and content.

How to make time for nature

With over 50% of the world’s population living in cities and urban areas since 2002, it’s no wonder that the lack of nature is becoming a mental health concern. After being restricted so much during lockdown, it’s likely you’re craving a little time in nature. But how can we make time for nature when our lives are busier than they’ve ever been before? We have so many demands on our time these days. Spending time in nature shouldn’t be just another line on our ever expanding to do list. It should become a simple way of regrouping and relaxing.

Here are some things you might like to try with the kids as they head back to school:

  1. Exercise outside – Rather than head straight to school and back, find a park, beach or river along the way and take a ball, dog or Frisbee (or perhaps a combination of all three.) Give the kids 10 minutes before or after school to just run around outside and play, and make sure you put your phone down and join in. Nature is about reconnecting to what’s important, and spending time with the kids should be top of the list. You’ll be surprised by the interesting things you find. Birds nests, rainbows, dragon fly’s or perhaps a moray eel…. All just on the way to school.
  2. Eat outside – Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a snack, find a nice space to sit outdoors. In Australia, we spend a fortune on outdoor settings but tend to eat inside, watching Netflix instead. The humble picnic rug could be your new best friend.
  3. Meet outside – As restrictions ease and we can catch up with family and friends again, ask them to connect in a natural setting rather than a café or restaurant. Try find a park, play ground or nature reserve so the kids can run around and just be kids. It’s better for your mental health and your budget.
  4. Play outside – We have never been a big TV or technology family, but now even less so. We tend to invest in toys like a slack line, juggling balls, stand up paddle boards, or frisbee’s which help the kids get outside more often. We leave the ‘toy’ bucket by the front door so when they start looking for something to do, it’s readily on hand. Play is certainly a key to wellbeing, and when done in nature doubles the benefits.
  5. As you head back into the new normal, think about what you want your kids to take away from this experience. The covid lock downs have been challenging and at times traumatic, but giving kids a love of nature and a way to feel calm and free is perhaps something they can draw on in years to come.

I think you’ll find that the more time you spend in nature with your kids, the better you all feel.

Share this post

Facebook
LinkedIn

More from the blog