ENVIRONMENT AND EDUCATION: COGNITIVE ADVANTAGES OF NATURE IN A CHILD'S LIFE

We instinctively turn to Nature as a way of relaxing and enhancing our well-being. Nature inspires, fulfills and motivates. Nature is a child's first and most important school.

•Children in contact with Nature score higher on tests of concentration and self-discipline. Exposure to natural environments improves children's cognitive development by improving their awarenesss, reasoning and observational skills.
•Environmental psychologists at the University of Michigan, Stephen and Rachel Kaplan have developed the attention-restoration theory. It states that too much directed attention activities like computer tasks, homework, etc. can lead to 'directed-attention fatigue', causing impulsive behaviour, agitation, irritation and inability to concentrate. According to them, an environment that is strong on fascination and where attention is automatic, it helps the directed attention to rest. Nature is an ideal example of such an environment and provides restorative relief.
•When children play in natural environments, there is more imaginative and creative play that fosters language and collaborative skills. It helps children develop powers of observation and creativity and instills a sense of peace and being at one with the world (Crain 2001).
•Early experiences with Nature have been positively linked with the development of imagination and sense of wonder. (Cobb 1977, Louv 1991). Wonder is an important motivator for life long learning (Wilson 1997).
•Exposure to Nature increases a child's resilience to stress – the more stressful the event, the more marked the effect (Nancy Wells, Cornell University).
•Children who play regularly in natural environments show more advanced motor fitness, including coordination, balance and agility, and they are sick less often (Fjortoft 2001, Grahn 1997).
•Play in natural environment reduces or eliminates anti-social behaviour such as violence, bullying, vandalism and littering, as well as reduces absenteeism (Coffey 2001, Malone & Tranter 2003, Moore & Cosco 2000).
• Researchers from Illinois University have shown that exposure to natural settings may effectively reduce problems in children who have ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
This above research is barely a little percentage of all the work which has been done in the field of Environment and Education.This goes to show the long-term benefits of Nature in a child's education.