Teaching Kids to Value the Environment by Bringing Them Outdoors

It’s a fantastic, simple idea that, to my knowledge, is underutilized. Bringing kids outdoors and exposing them to nature can teach them to value and appreciate the environment, as well as fall in love with some of nature’s most amazing benefits. In the article, "Kids can learn to value environment by spending time outdoors," posted on the Midland (Texas) Reporter-Telegram website, author Marcia Norton offers some great examples on why giving kids the opportunity to explore their outdoor environment can lead them to live healthier lives, as well as develop an appreciation for the land around them.

She writes that having kids spend more time outside can decrease the possibility of developing depression and can even lift their mood. “Nature can stimulate their curiosity and improve their attention span and being outside strengthens learning. Exposure to outdoor, green settings also can help reduce the symptoms of attention deficit disorders in children,” Norton maintains. These are fantastic benefits and exposing kids to nature isn’t a difficult task. It could be as simple as setting aside a portion of the school day to let students help plant and maintain a school garden. Perhaps it’s developing curriculum where kids can elect to take classes that teach them early sustainability skills. Schools need to put a great importance on giving kids the opportunity to spend more time outdoors.

I believe that this is an idea that all schools, of all grade levels (including college) need to adopt. Bringing kids and students of all ages outdoors can have a positive impact on their health, but what’s also important about doing this is the way kids will begin to feel towards the environment. Exposing kids to the wonders of nature at an early age can motivate them to take action in the future that will help to save our environment. As the well-being of our environment becomes more and more critical, the need to educate younger generations on the importance of taking care of our environment is more than necessary. Now is the time to teach them what is happening to the environment and what could happen if no one takes cares of it.

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