Dr. Pooja Tandon and Dr. Danette Glassy, Seattle-based pediatricians and nature advocates, want kids and families to understand and reap all the benefits of being out in nature. That’s part of why they wrote “Digging into Nature: Outdoor Adventures for Happier and Healthier Kids,” a new book released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) this month.
The other reason? Because, as parents, they know how hard it can be to do the things that are good for you.
“As pediatricians, we spend our professional time dedicated to promoting the health of children and know passionately that children thrive with time in nature,” Drs. Tandon and Glassing write in the book’s introduction.
“Science supports what you may already know intuitively, that time outdoors, especially in nature, is important for the development and well-being of children and can help manage some physical and mental conditions,” the authors continue. “But in sharing this message with our patients, our colleagues, and our own friends and families, we’ve learned that even when we know something is good for us, it can be challenging to put it into practice.”
A wealth of ideas and information
Digging into Nature offers parents a wealth of information and ideas for doing just that. From the importance of cultivating strong family connections outdoors to how to navigate nature with a child who has special needs to how and why to get out in nature from pregnancy to adulthood, the book is chock full of tips, statistics, activities, and valuable reflections that are easy to understand and give you plenty to chew on when you put the book down. The author’s approach is focused. While there are many research directions they could go in regards to the benefits of time in nature, they zero in on three:
- Being out in nature promotes mental health.
- Intentional time outdoors supports healthy behaviors and physical well-being.
- Outdoor activities and activities in nature decrease harmful exposures.
“This is not just another nature book for families; this is a nature book for families from two pediatricians who have listened to many diverse perspectives carefully and offer research-informed, parent and community–tested advice about the essential childhood experience of nature time,” the authors write.
Reflection, actions, nuggets
Moving through the book’s 206 pages, I appreciated the presentation of information and the use of several tools for offering insight or encouraging action.
For example, throughout Digging into Nature, readers run into boxes entitled “Reflection,” inviting them to think back on their own childhood experiences in nature and consider how to create such experiences for kids today, whose time often is focused on screens (youth screen time rose significantly during the pandemic and has remained high). Here’s an example of a Reflection box:
“Recall an early childhood memory when you were doing something joyful outdoors. Who were you with? Why was it special? Depending on where you grew up and what you had access to, you may remember vast natural landscapes or even small pockets of nature that helped you feel calm, curious, joyful, or connected. You may have a memory of an unforgettable nature experience on a family or school trip. Perhaps you had a favorite spot surrounded by nature that you visited often. All children need those opportunities in nature as fundamental childhood experiences. How can we, as a community, make that happen?
There are several regularly recurring boxes of information and insight; for example, in “Nature Nugget” call-outs, the authors offer up scientific information, definitions, and explanations, and in boxes labeled “Action Item,” they call on parents to take simple actions that bring them and their children closer to nature. An example of the latter: “Can you think of a way to bring nature into your home? Maybe you fill a decorative bowl with pinecones or visit a plant store and pick out a houseplant with your child.”
Connecting time in nature to cultures
Sections labeled “Rooted in Culture” explore the ways communities and cultures around the world engage with and rely on nature:
Many Nordic countries, including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland, prioritize time spent outside, especially for children and families. There is a long history of improving child health through outdoor exposure and activities. Many Nordic people refer to this priority as friluftsliv, meaning “open-air life.” It is about noncompetitive, nonmotorized outdoor exploration together in nearby nature and finding joy in the process.
This cultural priority extends to the practice of having babies nap outside, year-round. Many parents in these countries believe that the fresh air promotes growth and that the baby sleeps better. Danish childcare sites often have areas designated for outdoor naps, and all the Nordic countries have long had outdoor preschools where young children spend their entire school day outside, year-round. If you’re worried about taking your little one outdoors, take inspiration from this Nordic tradition and know that if your baby is dressed warmly, they can certainly be outdoors, in most weather.
How much time outdoors?
What is the right amount of time outdoors and in nature? Tandon and Glassy answer that with an enthusiastic non-answer first: “We get this question a lot from parents, and the easy answer is this: children should play outdoors as much as possible!” Then they point to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations:
Writing from experience
Both authors straddle the worlds of medicine and nature. Dr. Tandon is a general pediatrician and researcher at the Seattle Children’s Hospital, an associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and the director of health at the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit working to create parks and protect public land so that all people can access the outdoors and benefit from contact with nature. Dr. Glassy is a primary care pediatrician and cofounder of the nonprofit BestStart Washington and leads its Project Nature initiative—a program to support pediatric medical professionals as they encourage children to spend time in nature. She is the co-editor of “Caring for Our Children. National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs.“
Equally important, Tandon and Glassy are both parents. So, they understand many parents’ constraints in making time for and then intentionally moving into nature with their kids.
“As parents ourselves, we’ve been in the position of juggling many roles and priorities, hoping we make the best decisions for our children,” they write. They have seen the same juggling among their patients. Their book, they hope, will reassure parents that receiving the many benefits of being in nature does not require long-range planning and a lot of money.
“But parents don’t need a planned, specific activity to get their children outdoors,” Dr. Glassy said in a release. “Scientific research validates nature’s preventive care and healing effects, and engaging in free play outside can boost children’s health and well-being.”
Read more:
Read! Go! 27 wonderful children’s books and outings to go with them
Indigenous StoryWalk returns to Magnolia
Reading with grandkids: 9 tips for bonding over books
