{"id":594225,"date":"2022-07-27T14:15:46","date_gmt":"2022-07-27T18:15:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canstaging.earthrangers.com\/?p=592176"},"modified":"2022-11-30T11:10:26","modified_gmt":"2022-11-30T16:10:26","slug":"its-not-magic-its-the-great-outdoors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.earthrangers.com\/EN\/CA\/parenting-blog\/its-not-magic-its-the-great-outdoors\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s not Magic, it’s the Great Outdoors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u2019ve got to come clean. I have a pretty strong bias<\/strong> when it comes to the benefits of spending time outside. If truth be told, it\u2019s always been that way. When I filled out my career questionnaire as a teenager, it came back with a very clear direction for my future. According to the test results, I was destined to be a forest ranger. I was a bit surprised since my heart was set on journalism but there\u2019s a good chance I skewed the results with my love of building forts and my aversion to meetings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve been hearing a lot about the benefits of connecting with nature these last couple of years. There have been countless news reports suggesting stepping away from our computers and getting some fresh air helps with our mental health<\/strong>. A massive review by Pediatrics<\/strong><\/a> found this is also true for children. And just in case anyone wasn\u2019t quite sure, the researchers looked at a whopping 269 studies that all came to a similar conclusion:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access to greenspaces, nature and parks helped improve children\u2019s overall wellbeing. <\/strong>The review found that in an ideal world, these spaces would be near a child\u2019s home or school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Earth Rangers on our Mission, Nature Scavenger Hunt<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Researchers also suggested that not all outdoor time is equal. They concluded connecting with nature in a meaningful way was more beneficial than simply running around a parking lot. This is where that pretty strong bias I mentioned earlier comes in. I believe any kind of outdoor time is extremely valuable. Getting a lung full of fresh air and feeling the sun on their face can do a child a world of good. The emphasis on a meaningful connection with nature makes sense, but a more holistic approach could be another way of helping kids feel the benefits of connecting with the outdoors. Let\u2019s look at a range of options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n