Why A natural playground?
The average child today spends less time playing outdoors and less time in unstructured play than previous generations, which results in less focus and a decrease in intellectual, physical, social, and emotional success in life. Numerous studies over the past decade have shown that daily free play in an engaging, natural play area increases a child's ability to focus as well as increases academic gains in math, science, language arts, and social studies. Not only do children experience gains in the classroom, research shows that children are more creative, physically active, health conscious, and civil. Who doesn't want that for their child?
We can help our children avoid and decrease the impact of alarming trends in obesity, attention disorders, and depression by creating a playground designed to excite and challenge them. Unstructured play time in our natural playground will allow our children to learn how to get along with others and problem solve. Playing outdoors will give our children more range of movement and freedom for physical activity. And access to nature aids will aid in our children's development intellectually, emotionally, socially, spiritually and physically.
Feel free to read the research for yourself!
We can help our children avoid and decrease the impact of alarming trends in obesity, attention disorders, and depression by creating a playground designed to excite and challenge them. Unstructured play time in our natural playground will allow our children to learn how to get along with others and problem solve. Playing outdoors will give our children more range of movement and freedom for physical activity. And access to nature aids will aid in our children's development intellectually, emotionally, socially, spiritually and physically.
Feel free to read the research for yourself!
Further Reading
The primer on children and play. After writing this book, Richard Louv cofounded the Children and Nature Network, an organization working to reconnect children and nature.
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