A dramatic decline in children's relationship with the outdoors is harming their emotional and physical health, according to a new report.
The research, commissioned by the National Trust, shows that today’s generation of children are losing touch with the natural world.
The report, entitled Natural Childhood, by naturalist and TV producer Stephen Moss, calls on parents and grandparents who grew up outdoors to pass on their experiences to tackle the rise of ‘nature deficit disorder’ in children.
According to the research, a review of academic research and surveys, fewer than ten per cent of children play in wild places, down from 50 per cent a generation ago.
The roaming radius for children has also declined by 90 per cent in one generation, and three times as many children are taken to hospital each year after falling out of bed, as from falling out of trees.
Mr Moss said, ‘We all know the benefits being outdoors can bring, and parents want children to spend more time outdoors than they do.
‘But despite this overwhelming evidence and the different initiatives and schemes run by organisations across the UK, our children are spending less and less time in the outdoors.’
He added, ‘The time to act is now, whilst we still have a generation of parents and grandparents who grew up outdoors and can pass on their experience and whilst there remains a determination to do something positive in this area.
‘Organisations that have an interest in this area, whether working in our towns and cities or in the countryside, have to connect what they are doing and commit to a long-term approach that really makes a difference.’
To help reconnect children with the natural world, the National Trust is inviting leading experts and members of the public to contribute to a two month inquiry to reverse this trend.
The Trust is also holding a summit this summer, in partnership with Arla Foods, the NHS Sustainable Development Unit and film-makers Green Lions, to bring together a range of experts to develop a roadmap for reconnecting children and nature.
Fiona Reynolds, director general of the National Trust, said, ‘Getting outdoors and closer to nature has all sorts of benefits for children. It keeps them fit, they can learn about the world around them and most of all it's fun.
‘That’s why it’s so worrying that so many children today don’t have the opportunity to experience the outdoors and nature. Building a den, picking flowers, climbing trees - the outdoors is a treasure trove, rich in imagination. It brings huge benefits that we believe every child should have the opportunity to experience. And there are huge costs when they don’t.
‘As a nation we need to do everything we can to make it easy and safe for our children to get outdoors.
‘We want to move the debate on and encourage people and organisations to think about how we take practical steps to reconnect children with the natural world and inspire them to get outdoors.’
Commenting on the research Dr Colin MacAdam, outdoor learning expert, and managing director of Playforce
The report, entitled Natural Childhood, by naturalist and TV producer Stephen Moss, calls on parents and grandparents who grew up outdoors to pass on their experiences to tackle the rise of ‘nature deficit disorder’ in children.
According to the research, a review of academic research and surveys, fewer than ten per cent of children play in wild places, down from 50 per cent a generation ago.
The roaming radius for children has also declined by 90 per cent in one generation, and three times as many children are taken to hospital each year after falling out of bed, as from falling out of trees.
Mr Moss said, ‘We all know the benefits being outdoors can bring, and parents want children to spend more time outdoors than they do.
‘But despite this overwhelming evidence and the different initiatives and schemes run by organisations across the UK, our children are spending less and less time in the outdoors.’
He added, ‘The time to act is now, whilst we still have a generation of parents and grandparents who grew up outdoors and can pass on their experience and whilst there remains a determination to do something positive in this area.
‘Organisations that have an interest in this area, whether working in our towns and cities or in the countryside, have to connect what they are doing and commit to a long-term approach that really makes a difference.’
To help reconnect children with the natural world, the National Trust is inviting leading experts and members of the public to contribute to a two month inquiry to reverse this trend.
The Trust is also holding a summit this summer, in partnership with Arla Foods, the NHS Sustainable Development Unit and film-makers Green Lions, to bring together a range of experts to develop a roadmap for reconnecting children and nature.
Fiona Reynolds, director general of the National Trust, said, ‘Getting outdoors and closer to nature has all sorts of benefits for children. It keeps them fit, they can learn about the world around them and most of all it's fun.
‘That’s why it’s so worrying that so many children today don’t have the opportunity to experience the outdoors and nature. Building a den, picking flowers, climbing trees - the outdoors is a treasure trove, rich in imagination. It brings huge benefits that we believe every child should have the opportunity to experience. And there are huge costs when they don’t.
‘As a nation we need to do everything we can to make it easy and safe for our children to get outdoors.
‘We want to move the debate on and encourage people and organisations to think about how we take practical steps to reconnect children with the natural world and inspire them to get outdoors.’
Commenting on the research Dr Colin MacAdam, outdoor learning expert, and managing director of Playforce
'The real crux is that, without outdoor play, children are restricted in their experiential learning through development of team-building, problem-solving, risk-taking, story-telling and social skills, as well as learning about science and materials, mathematics, discovering environmental matters and developing an awareness of art and creativity. Statistics evidencing the benefits of outdoor play in combating bullying, as well as the obvious health benefits, should not be overlooked when reviewing adult health and social matters. We should all be in the business of life long health and wellbeing, starting from when we are children.'
