Written and supplied by Sophie Moulson, Nature base
Spending time in nature is just as important for you, as well as for your baby in those early years. It can be an amazing well-being boost for you and provide a stimulating environment for your baby to learn, grow, explore, be curious and develop an appreciation for nature and the natural environment from a young age.
Being in nature stimulates our senses, for babies even at a young age; seeing the trees swaying and rustling leaves above them as they go on a buggy walk or lay on a rug with you looking up at the trees and sky can provide a wealth of developmental experiences, and a time of connection for you both, whilst connecting with the world we live in.
There is usually something to explore on walks or sitting in a green space or park. The colours and smells of flowers, touching and crawling on grass, feeling mud/soil, sand and different textures. Playing in mud/soil exposes children and adults to friendly bacteria that scientists have found increase serotonin levels. Simply being near a green space has been found to lower stress and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, which could be helpful during sleepless nights.
Nature provides a space and place for play opportunities, and play is a crucial dynamic of healthy physical, intellectual, and social-emotional development at all ages. Children who play regularly in natural environments show more advanced motor skills including coordination, balance, and agility. Uneven surfaces to learn to balances on, tree stumps to pull themselves up on and climb over, are all good ways to strengthen muscles and promote self-confidence.
As children grow through the years, their relationship with nature and developmental opportunities grow too; encouraging problem solving, exploring risk and mastering challenges.
