It’s no coincidence that many of the world’s best schools are surrounded by green spaces. At a time when everyone’s lives are increasingly digital, the potential benefits of spending just a bit more time outside are bigger than many of us can even imagine.
Here at our private school in Devon, we’re lucky to have our own extensive grounds including woodlands, a pond and lots of sports pitches. We ensure every pupil gets plenty of time enjoying our green spaces across the curriculum, and these are just some of the benefits that it brings.
Improved Emotional Temperament
It has long been believed that time in outdoor spaces is great for our overall well-being, but scientific research is starting to bring this into even sharper focus.
Various pieces of new research show that there may be a link between more green spaces at schools and improved blood pressure, cortisol levels and stronger self-regulatory capacities. All of this and more come together to help children develop a stronger sense of emotional control.
Having a good emotional temperament isn’t just great for academic success, where stress becomes easier to manage, it’s also fantastic for developing empathy, helping pupils to build diverse friendship networks.
Better Cognitive Development
One of the most commonly cited benefits of green spaces in schools is cognitive development. Our thinking skills benefit largely from the natural balancing of chemicals that occurs when we spend time in green spaces free from pollution and filled with natural light.
More research, however, has shown a particular link between pupils spending time in green spaces and their cognitive abilities connected to spatial awareness. Problem solving and wayfinding are two cited improvements when children spend more time outside, alongside reduced nearsightedness.
The less time children spend in a square room watching a screen and the more time they spend in a forest, the better they are at working their way around things, both physically and mentally.
Better Mental Health
Following on from improved emotional temperament, spending more time outside delivers a range of benefits that can help support children’s mental health.
Mental health is a complex area, and simply being in green spaces isn’t enough to ensure good mental health for all pupils. However, through individual benefits such as reduced blood pressure, improved ability to manage stress, increased attention and improved empathy, more time in natural spaces gives children an improved chance of having strong mental fitness.
Improved Physical Development
Being in green spaces means moving around. While one walk through a park isn’t going to turn you into a marathon runner, the difference in pupils who get an extra hour every week moving through green spaces is significant.
Research has shown that children who have easy access to green play areas tend to have stronger bones and improved immune systems. More time outside has also been linked to improved motor skills and balance.
Welcoming green spaces encourage exploration and adventure, which is fantastic for every child’s physical development.
Better Sleep
It should come as no surprise that children who spend more time outside tend to have better sleeping patterns.
As discussed, more time in green spaces naturally leads to children burning off more energy, making it easier to fall asleep. However, more time in natural light, and away from screens, also helps regulate our circadian rhythm, the body clock that regulates chemicals in our body that tell us when to sleep and when to be alert.
Closer Relationship to Nature
Last, but not least, better and more frequent experiences with the natural world at a young age can help to foster a connection to the Earth that remains throughout their lives.
It’s clear that nature, and our connection to it, are going to play a huge role in the lives of future generations. Whether you’re passionate about protecting the environment or simply want your child to be prepared for emerging opportunities in an eco-conscious world, time in green spaces will ensure their minds are in tune with the positive impacts nature can have on all our lives.
Having a little bit of extra time in natural spaces every week can help. However, having a school experience that is surrounded by greenery and which encourages natural exploration every day can make a huge difference to a child’s development. If that sounds exciting to you, why not take our virtual tour to discover what St Peter’s Prep is all about?
