Life is stressful.
We live in a fast-paced world with constant change. Constant stress.
But there are little things we can do to buffer life’s stressful events and these small actions are especially effective for children.
Simply add a little NATURE to your life.
Research shows that children who are exposed to “nearby nature” are less stressed-out and have higher feelings of self-worth. Nature can even make us nicer!
So what is nearby nature and how do we encourage it? It’s really quite simple.
If you’re a parent, plant a garden outside a window. Try to focus on windows that you and your children can easily access every day. Or, take your kids to the store and have them pick out a houseplant to care for. Keep the plants in a room where you spend most of your time as a family. The key is to make sure the garden or houseplants are easy for your children to see throughout the day.
As a teacher, you can add plants to your reading nook or reflection corner. If you lack windows in your classroom and are unsure what to grow, check out The Ultimate Guide to Office Plants for some help.
Our everyday actions matter! We don’t have to live next to a forest to expose our children to nature. We can plant a vegetable garden or care for houseplants with our kids. As parents (or educators) we can help our children be more resilient by adding a little nature and a little nurture into their everyday lives.
Click here to read more about the research concerning nature and stress for children.