Why Teach Kids About Nature in School?
Posted on 10th March 2025 at 11:55
This is a question I am often asked and invariably the answer causes a lot of surprises. So, I thought I would share the answers with you and see if I can surprise you too.
About two or three generations ago the concept of teaching nature to kids at school would have been strange, as would the idea of needing to help people of all ages connect to nature. Now it is the norm, and classes are held all over the country to do that very thing.
My now dead mother clearly remembered growing up spending hours outside, roaming the woods near where she lived. Going to stay for large chunks of the summer with her grandparents out on the Gower near Swansea. Walking over the common, swimming on the beaches and being as one with nature.
Now many kids see the outdoors as a messy, boring place and are happier playing on one of their electronic devices. Parents perceive the outdoors as dangerous, more so now than a few generations ago, and thus are glad to keep their kids indoors.
Dealing with the latter first, it isn’t more dangerous, it’s just we hear about it more with TV, and social media. In the past word of mouth shared the news, so it took longer to get about.
As to why we need to teach kids about nature here are just some of the many benefits to be had…
Physical and mental wellbeing – being outside encourages more activity which helps to reduce obesity and promotes better motor skills, balance and coordination. Improves self-confidence as children naturally push themselves to try to do more. Improves their mental health by reducing stress and anxiety and creating a sense of calm. This allows them to develop better problem-solving skills, increase their creativity, imagination and curiosity. It fosters the feelings of awe and wonder which have been proven to slow down the aging process.
Spending time in nature helps children deal with and reduce outbursts of anger and aggression and improve impulse control. They naturally learn to focus, attention span and can help with sufferers of ADHD. It also helps children in subjects like science, maths, reading, and social studies achieve more.
Nature – spending time outside and finding out about nature helps them to connect to nature. This means they will value and respect nature and from this comes the desire to look after nature. They can learn that they are responsible for the planet and must look after it. This connectivity will empower and encourage children to speak out about and take action on matters involving nature.
Now you may be saying this sounds amazing, why aren’t all schools using nature to help their pupils as much as possible. Well, there are several reasons for this, key is probably lack of time. At primary level teachers have to be jack of all trades as they have an ever-increasing number of things to teach their pupils.
Add to this less time to prepare their lessons, something has to go. Many of the teachers will have come now from a generation who didn’t spend much time in nature themselves, so they do not know the benefits or how to bring it into their classroom. They have to turn to resources to help them out.
If resources are not produced by people who have both a love and knowledge of nature and know how to appeal to the kids, they will not achieve what is needed.
Further they may well feel that the time spent connecting to and being outdoors is not worth it. I would say there is so much research out there that shows how beneficial time with and in nature can be.
Just imagine having a class of kids who were motivated, calm, focused, in good mental health. How much easier would it be to teach them and what they could achieve.
Many teachers believe that to help kids connect with nature and spend time outdoors requires taking them somewhere, which comes with its cost, time to arrange it and any risks. So, the easy option is to ignore it.
I would say if you are a teacher and would like to find out it can be made easy contact me. If you are a parent or governor and would like to give your kids, the best chance, contact me. I am passionate about nature, use to bringing boring subjects alive, and producing resources to help you.
Thanks for joining me this month, why not check out my website or email me nadine@naturegives.co.uk. I would love to help you, help your pupils, help nature.
Also, if you haven’t done so why not join me for my weekly Podcasts where my three passions of nature, stories and history, come together.
Remember to walk softly upon the earth.
Goodbye for now.
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