How to Build a Nature Habit for Your Family to Feel Happier and Calmer
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ave you ever gone on a walk just to clear your mind or taken a “mental health day” to visit the beach, woods, mountains, or even a local park? What we all suspected intuitively, science has confirmed: spending time connecting to nature is a safe, effective tool to help minimize the effects of stress and boost mood. It also reduces our response to stress and allows us to recover from tense situations more quickly. Additionally, nature has been shown to improve focus and attention; lower the production of stress hormones like cortisol; and reduce stress-related physical symptoms like high blood pressure, increased heart rate and muscle tension. A growing number of studies over the past few decades from around the world have shown the importance of nature in improving our family’s health and happiness. Examples cover a broad scope, including recreation activities in the wilderness, community gardens, nature art, views of nature, outdoor exercise, nature-related mindfulness and meditation, as well as contact with animals. Nature offers a soothing sensory experience like none other. Listening to birds chirping, breathing in the moist air after a rainstorm, and walking barefoot on the warm sand are natural treasures that help improve our mood. Viewing natural scenery like flowers, green plants and woods, for example, leads to more relaxed feelings than looking 20 WNY Family July 2022
can set it up yourself or have your kids do it. Go through your house and garage and gather a variety of fitness equipment. Put together several stations for different activities, such as a jump rope, cones to weave around, a box to jump over and a basketball net to shoot a ball into. You can also have some stations that do not require equipment; for example, they can do jumping jacks, push-ups, or hop on one foot.
By Sandi Schwartz at images with no nature at all. Colors, patterns, textures, scents, and sounds are the primary ways we can experience nature through our senses. We can connect to nature in so many ways from mindfulness to outdoor exercise to visiting nature centers. A recent groundbreaking study published in Scientific Reports found that spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and well-being. That’s only about 20 minutes a day. Not sure how to build a nature habit for your family? The best approach is to start with what they already love and go from there to incorporate more nature into their daily lives. If they are artistic, consider nature-related art projects, since nature is filled with so much beauty to spark creativity in our kids. Ideas include nature photography, drawing and painting nature scenes, writing nature poetry, keeping a nature journal, and making up nature songs and dances. They can also engage in a variety of nature art projects using natural items, such as grass weaving, making shell necklaces, collages, mindful rock painting, and creating nature mandalas or sculptures. If they are athletic, sign them up for green exercise, which refers to any activity in which we interact with nature while moving our bodies and breaking a sweat. Some ideas include hiking, swimming, biking, running, and outdoor team sports. You can also get creative with an obstacle course in your backyard. You
If they are adventurous, carve out some time after school, on the weekends, and during school breaks to get away to places where your kids can go exploring outside and try new things. Some ideas for adventures include camping, boating, kayaking, river rafting, caving, mountain biking, rock climbing, ziplining, geocaching, skiing, surfing, and doing a ropes course. If they love math and science, get them involved in nature-related science projects. One example is citizen science, which involves volunteering to collect scientific data. It is a way for children to gain science experience and help the scientific community while spending time outdoors in nature. There are citizen science opportunities for kids of all ages and levels. Your family can get involved from your own backyard or through a more organized group like a school nature or science club. Check out CitizenScience.gov, SciStarter.org, and Zooniverse.org to find citizen science projects. The options are truly endless to build a nature habit that your family will love and benefit from. Just keep challenging yourselves to do more, go a little bit deeper, and experience something out of the ordinary. Try new nature activities, visit different places you have never explored, and experiment with what brings the most joy and calm to your family. Share your experiences and the tremendous benefits of nature with friends and family so they can benefit as well.
10 Activities to Start Building Your Family’s Nature Habit Mom and author Sandi Schwartz is passionate about nature and the environment. In her book, Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your