The Great Outdoors

Ahhhh – who doesn’t love the warmth of the sun, the feel of a cool breeze and the sounds of birdsong? Nature is soothing for all, especially children. Some of my fondest childhood memories were when I was outside, biking from house to house, making forts out of leaves and sticks, and my favorite, playing Capture the Flag. Little did I know how important it was for my mental health.

Being outside can fundamentally improve a child’s mental health because it:

• Decreases stress by reducing cortisol levels, the bodies primary stress hormone
• Reduces anxiety by lowering cortisol levels which reduces blood pressure and negative thoughts, and triggers release of feel-good hormones like dopamine
• Increases serotonin release, a feel-good hormone which calms the amygdala, the stress center of the brain
• Improves focus by providing a sensory brain break which then improves executive functioning skills (focus, attention, problem solving)
• Fosters social and emotional growth by again reducing cortisol, increasing the release of feel-good chemicals like serotonin, which in turn improves self-confidence, empathy, cooperation and conflict resolution. 
• Improves quality of sleep by releasing serotonin and endorphins which regulate your circadian rhythm, your sleep cycle.
• Increases creativity by providing unstructured play and using multi-sensory materials such as sticks and rocks – because they lack a predefined us, they encourage creativity 

There are so many benefits to spending the daily recommended 1-3 hours enjoying the outdoors.  Whether it is playing catch, going for a walk or tobogganing down a local hill with friends, all of these activities promote mental wellness for all, especially our little ones. 

 

Becky Morrison is a Nurse Practitioner based out of Calgary who has specialized in mental health for over a decade. She is finally, after years of infertility, a mother of two busy little boys, and doting fur mom of her gentle giant, Stella. She is, and always will be, a strong advocate for mental wellness at all ages.