Want to genuinely increase your child’s happiness, without the use of new toys and electronics? Take them outside. According to a study published in Frontiers of Psychology, children who feel connected to nature are overall happier human beings.
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To conduct the study, researchers handed out a questionnaire to nearly 300 children between the ages of 9 and 12 in a classroom. The questions were formulated to help measure each child’s link to nature, along with their eco-friendly behaviors and level of happiness. The results showed that children who felt connected to nature — those who enjoyed hearing sounds of nature and seeing wildflowers and animals — also engaged in actions that helped others, such as recycling and saving water. These children were also more likely to say they believed in equality, and to score high on a happiness scale.
The researchers suggested that children with these behaviors may also be more likely to care about the environment in the future. Regarding the children involved in the study, Dr. Laura Barrera-Hernandez, the study’s author, explained, “They are future consumers of products, entrepreneurs, decision-makers, workers, and depending on the environmental education received, their connection with nature, environmental awareness and environmental values are the future of the environment, too.”
Previous studies have shown that spending time in nature can help reduce anxiety, depression and negative thoughts, lower blood pressure and increase mood. Because the Earth carries an electron-rich, negative charge, walking barefoot outside also provides a powerful and abundant supply of antioxidant electrons that zap free radicals, lower inflammation and heal your body in numerous ways. Grounding — walking barefoot outside — has been linked to improved sleep, more rapid wound healing, reduced pain and reduced blood viscosity.
How much time do you spend in nature? How much time do your kids spend in nature? To learn more about the physical and mental benefits of spending time in nature, read, “How Immersing Yourself in Nature Benefits Your Health.”