Did you know that the early childhood years (ages 0-7) are the most impressionable years within a person’s entire life? What happens within these precious early years has the ability to mold human beings into the adults they become later in life. This is because babies, toddlers and young children take in the world without a filter, and each life experience becomes part of their very being. A bit of an intimidating thought in a sense, yes; the fragility of these years begins to stand out as we think deeper into this concept; but it also holds significant value as caretakers. By becoming aware of this strikingly important fact about child development, we are gifted the ability to interweave as many wholesome experiences as we wish into the lives of the precious children with whom we share our time with; whether this be our own children, nieces or nephews, grandchildren, neighbors, students, etc.

Cue the nurturing effects of the outdoors. Early nature exposure & integration not only has the ability to provide wholesome experiences for children, but it also has the amazing ability to heal sources of trauma. Healing within the outdoors happens very naturally and increases in strength the more consistently a child spends time outside, most specifically through unstructured free play time while directly integrating nature as toys (cue those budding imaginative and creativity skills!).

benefits for Infants & Babies (0-12 months)

For infants and babies, nature exposure creates a complete treasure trove of sensory benefits! By simply going for nature walks within the woodlands (or even stroller walks through your neighborhood in the fresh air), baby will soak up countless golden opportunities for boosted development, such as strengthening their sense of sight and naturally increasing immunity. Allow baby to touch the rough bark of a tree or explore the softness of a maple leaf and you’ve organically boosted their sensory development and cognitive growth! Much like the activities we provide within our Saplings Infant Circle Programs, simplicity with nature exposure is key at this age.

• Improved circadian rhythm (better sleep!)
• Strengthened eye sight (tracking and focusing on natural objects such as trees)
• Boosted immunity (thank you fresh air!)
• Sensory integration (by touching rough bark, smooth leaves, wet water, cold ice, etc)
• Increased coordination & motor skill development (curiosity = natural intentional movement of the body!)
• May improve tummy time (baby may tolerate tummy time easier when enticed by nature)
• Improved mood (nature naturally calms us)
• And so much more!

Take a peek at these related articles specifically about babies and nature exposure to gain knowledge and awareness!

• Article: 7 Ways Babies Benefit from Being Outside
• Article: The Benefits of Outdoor Time for Infants
• Article: Nature Play for Babies and Toddlers
• Article: The Importance of Interactions with Nature for Children Ages 0-3 Years
• Article: Benefits of Bringing Babies and Toddlers into Nature (and How to Make it a Positive Experience)

Benefits for Toddlers & Young Children (13 months-7 years)

The benefits of early nature exposure for toddlers and young children stem from good-old outdoor unstructured free play, nature exploration and nature integration with playtime, much like the environment we enforce with our Forest Playgroup Programs. These wholesome benefits include:

• Increased imagination & creativity (a stick can be a spoon to mix “soup”; a rock can be a “potato” for the soup, etc)
• Boosted self confidence (opportunities for organic problem solving, for example)
• Reduced stress & fatigue (nature naturally has a calming effect on humans)
• Improved balance & coordination (by navigating un-even terrain or jumping over a puddle, for example)
• Boosted fine and gross motor skills (by grasping, picking, pinching, tapping, etc)
• A fostered sense of wonder and curiosity towards the earth (thus leading to adults who care about our planet)
• Improved mental health (reduced stress = happier children)
• Improved physical health (boosted immunity from the fresh air and physical fitness to move our bodies)
• Heightened social-emotional skills (through outdoor play with other children & wildlife interaction)
• Sense of responsibility (we should take care of nature so that we can keep playing within it)
• Foundational mathematical & science concepts learned organically (“Will this rock sink or float in the water?”)
• Increased intelligence overall (cue play-based and loose parts learning!)
• The ability to “think outside of the box” (for example, discovering that tapping two sticks together creates music)
• Fostered “growth mindset” thinking (for example, “It’s raining outside. That means more puddles to jump in with my rainboots!” vs. “It’s raining outside. Yuck, I have to stay inside.”)
• Increased empathy (for example, “I see a worm on the sidewalk! Let’s move it onto the grass so that it’s safe.”)
• Soothed symptoms of neurodivergence (thanks to nature’s soothing natural stimuli)
• And so much more!

Check out these related articles about nature exposure for young children to gain knowledge and awareness!

• Article: Kids Need to Be Outside
• Article: The Benefits of Nature Play for Children
• Article: The Power of Nature for Kids’ Wellbeing
• Article: Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature
• Article: Outdoor School
• Article: The Impacts of Nature Connectiveness on Children’s Well-Being

So, there we have it. Theres a treasure trove of incredibly wholesome benefits to soak up when we allow the children in our lives to consistently explore and integrate with nature! Let’s mindfully work to create amazing adults with the help of the nurturing and loving experiences we provide during this crucial window of early childhood development.

With Love,

Ms. Kate