How do green spaces help children?

Want to improve your children’s mental health and social skills?

Make it a habit to take them to parks and gardens at least once a week. Spending time in green spaces may help children develop better social skills and support their emotional well being as they grow.

This was revealed in a UK-based study, which found that children who regularly visit green spaces may experience better mental and social development over time.

According to the research children who visited a garden or park at least once a week, from birth until the age of 11, showed up to a 16.5% improvement in mental health.

Interestingly these benefits remained even after researchers considered other factors, including family problems and social and economic conditions.

How do parks and gardens support children’s mental health?

Researchers explained that parks and gardens give children a safe space to move around, play and enjoy physical activities. Staying active can benefit both physical and mental health.

Outdoor play can also help children become more confident, independent and comfortable around others.

Experts believe green spaces offer more than just opportunities for playing. They can also support children’s healthy growth and development.

What did the study reveal about Children’s social skills?

The study included 4,219 children and examined their social and emotional development. These skills are important because they help children understand their feelings, build relationships develop positive behaviour and deal with everyday challenges.

Researchers found that children who visited gardens and parks more frequently generally showed better social and emotional development.

They also had fewer behavioural problems emotional difficulties and issues with other children.

Can green spaces help reduce differences in child development?

Researchers suggested that parks and playgrounds could help reduce inequalities in children’s development.

One major advantage is that public parks and gardens are generally free and open to everyone. This means families do not need to spend extra money to give their children opportunities for outdoor activities.

Regular visits to green spaces can therefore be an easy and affordable way to support children’s mental health confidence and social skills.