Category Archives: Nature

On nature

The outdoor child: doomed to extinction?

Posted on March 15, 2012 | 8 comments

Shrinking horizons of childhoodEvery year since 1979 there has been a Big Garden Bird Watch, a UK-wide survey organised by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. I can’t help wondering about a survey of a different species: a Big Outdoor Child Watch.

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Posted in Child development, Health, Nature, Outdoor play, Parenting

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Who says kids don’t play in creeks and build dens any more?

Posted on January 17, 2012 | 7 comments

Of course some still do. Take the group of boys from Raleigh, North Carolina captured in this slide show.

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Posted in Nature, Outdoor play, Parenting, Risk

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Olympic playground plans unveiled

Posted on December 14, 2011 | 4 comments

The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) has announced the winners of the design competitions for the north and south hubs of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Congratulations to both winning teams, and commiserations to all the runners-up.

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Posted in Nature, Outdoor play, play, Play spaces, playground, Public space

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Why does nature matter to children? What’s the evidence?

Posted on November 28, 2011 | 15 comments

Sowing the seeds literature review coverWhat happens when children spend time in natural environments – and what happens if they do not? What does the empirical evidence say? And what other insights might the research literature hold? These were the questions that I wanted to answer in my literature review [pdf link] for the Sowing the Seeds project – published on 17th November, alongside the main report. Continue reading →

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Posted in Child development, Education, Health, Learning, Nature, Outdoor play, Public policy, Public space

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Risk benefit assessment in my own backyard (Part 2)

Posted on November 25, 2011 | 11 comments

Jozef toasting a marshmallowThe good news: the two fire-making sessions went very well. I felt that all the children engaged positively with the activities pretty much throughout. Six or seven parents emailed me afterwards to say how much their child enjoyed the evening. I don’t think they were just being polite. Continue reading →

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Posted in Nature, Risk

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London moves to reconnect children with nature

Posted on November 18, 2011 | 21 comments

Sowing the seeds report front coverMy new report Sowing the Seeds: Reconnecting children with nature was launched at City Hall yesterday morning. The report, written for the London Sustainable Development Commission (the body that advises the Mayor of London on sustainability) sets out a new vision for children’s relationship with nature, and maps out an action plan to reintroduce nature into their lives.

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Posted in Child development, Health, Learning, Nature, Outdoor play, Public policy, Public space

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