Nicola Hacking: Connecting with the Outdoors to Support our Wellbeing

Today we're joined by guest blog writer Nicola Hacking (follow at the curious case of the girl and the dog) sharing her love for nature and the impact on our wellbeing. 

The importance, role and vision of outdoor access in the early years has increased in leaps and bounds over previous years. We’re seeing a move away from traditional learning, with nurseries developing fabulous free-flow access, inspiring outdoor equipment and even ones based entirely outdoors in natural spaces. Children draw in the dirt with sticks, sing from the branches of trees and snooze lazily in hammocks, snuggled up in layers of cozy clothing. Practitioners hand out hot chocolates and giggle as they sneak an extra marshmallow for themselves and try not to develop too bad a t-shirt tan.

But why the shift? Or is it something in our very souls that’s been trying to burst out?

Scientific research tells us that time spent outdoors reaps a multitude of health benefits. These include improved blood pressure, levels of energy and concentration, and decreased risk of diseases such as cancer. When your skin is exposed to sunlight it makes Vitamin D from cholesterol, which is crucial for so many body processes such as strengthening bones. Sunlight also stimulates the pineal gland, producing melatonin and helping us to modulate our sleep patterns. Fresh air helps to send plenty of oxygen through the blood and allows your lungs to work at full capacity. More oxygen to the brain has the same effect! Another massive benefit which you might consider to be of particular importance right now, is that being outside can stimulate and hugely improve our immune system, vital for fighting off bugs and keeping us well.

Research has also shown that building a strong connection with the outdoors can enhance our emotional wellbeing, alleviate social isolation and help individuals suffering from mental health issues, anxiety and attention disorders. I surely cannot be the only practitioner that has seen a rise in children spending more time with tv’s, phones and computer games alongside an increase of children being referred for mental health and attention issues? The truth is that children are simply not designed for the kind of indoor lifestyle we have been subjecting them to. They need unstructured outdoor play, to have the room to gallop, climb, take risks and learn to share with others. They need outdoor space to learn to be inventive, curious and imaginative.

And of course, I can’t not mention the influence of Coronavirus. With our current outdoor access limited to one opportunity to exercise a day, taken from home, we have cut off our access to local – but not quite local enough – parks and green spaces. I personally live close to a fabulous large country park. It’s a quick pop out in the car but gosh I can’t begin to imagine how long it might take me to get there at toddler speed! This will invariably leave many of us wandering round uninspiring housing estates and roads, which doesn’t seem to have quite the same lovely effect. Will this experience show us how important it is to connect to the outdoor world? Will social-media mums (who suddenly now think it’s vital for their child to start taking a daily walk rather than their usual après-school sofa slouch with game controller in hand) begin to realise their family are actually reaping the benefits of now being hassled out of the house for their daily instagram’d exercise?

So what next?

We can access online support - and there’s mountains of it out there. From a variety of companies providing free inspiration via blogs and other social media, to companies which provide more specific accreditations that you can work on as a whole nursery or school. Find a photo of a provocation or a cosy hygge area you really love and develop it in your setting. Find out about the Hygge in the Early Years Accreditation here.

 Work out what it is about being outdoors that makes you or the children in you care feel happy. Is it the peace and quiet of a tranquil, mindful space? Or somewhere to engage in risky climbing and jumping? Then make more provision for this to happen!

Make it a priority to connect to the outdoors for YOU – because you have to have something in your bucket in order to fill others’, and I think we all know how easy it is, particularly as an educator, to end up filling so many other people’s buckets that your ends up more like a rusty old tin, only sustained with sweets hidden in the desk and the promise of ‘wine’oclock’. Make it a priority to get your own daily dose of nature, perhaps by starting something like Couch To 5k, or using our currently inflicted downtime to develop a new hobby such as an online yoga class in the garden, growing vegetables or creating your own cut flower patch.

Find out more about bringing nature and joy to your life with the FREE 5 day challenge here.