Early Environmental Education and Nature-Play Develop Positive Environmental Attitudes, Better Academic Achievement

Environmental education and interaction with nature before the teen years go a long way toward fostering positive attitudes about the environment in adulthood, according to research. Young children who are exposed to environmental education activities and chances to experience nature firsthand are more likely to do better intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically than children who are deprived of such connections.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) July 27, 2006 -- Environmental education (http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fewhours/environmental-education.htm) and interaction with nature before age 11 foster positive environmental attitudes in adulthood, according to a recent study from Cornell University. The findings, published by environmental psychologist Nancy Wells and research associate Kristi Lekies, indicate that children who have opportunities to spend free playtime in nature -- playing in the woods and observing their environment, hiking, camping -- are more likely to grow up to actively care about the environment.

Many experts agree that environmental education for children is critically important and that parents should introduce their child to his or her natural environment well before school begins. Early environmental education and opportunities to play in and experience nature help shape childrens’ values, perspectives, understanding, and appreciation of the world around them and help them learn how to interact with it.

Yet many children have few or no meaningful opportunities to experience nature or to participate in environmental education programs that emphasize free play, creativity, and exploration. Instead, they are involved with activities that isolate them from the natural world.

Computers, video games, television, schools’ emphasis on homework, a full after-school schedule of extracurricular activities, lack of access to natural areas—all these things and more are keeping children from experiencing their natural world and learning how the many levels of nature—weather, animals, plants, natural formations—are intimately connected with each other and with human life.

Fostering environmental education and free play in nature for children is critical because it:

• helps them develop into adults who understand and care about environmental stewardship

• encourages them to problem-solve. Research shows that children who participate in environmental education programs develop better critical thinking skills.

• nurtures their sense of wonder, imagination, and creativity

• provides them with a sense of beauty, calm, and refuge in a sometimes frightening world

• expands their intellectual development. Environmental education programs have been proven to raise math, science, and reading scores and grade-point averages.

• enhances physical development

• helps them understand the interrelationship of all life

Today’s children will be responsible for making decisions that will shape the integrity of the environment. To prepare them for such responsibilities, they need a sound environmental education as a foundation from which to make those decisions.

For a list of activities and ideas on how to foster environmental education in children, see “Promote Environmental Education for Children” at http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fewhours/environmental-education.htm

Gaylord Nelson, former US senator and the founder of Earth Day, said that “The battle to restore a proper relationship between man and his environment ... will require a long, sustained, political, moral, ethical, and financial commitment—far beyond any effort made before.”

For more ideas on how to foster such a proper relationship with the environment in as little as 15 minutes, an hour or two, or during your next vacation, visit the Charity Guide environmental protection website at http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/environmental-protection.htm.

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