Get Outside

Spending time outside is one of the easiest ways to fight stress. Being in nature shares many of the benefits of art, so combining the two is twice as great! If you have access to green space, some argue that’s most impactful, but you don’t need to be in the woods, or even venture to local trails to experience nature. Just go outside, away from traffic as much as possible, and see what you can experience in your yard, neighborhood, or local park. Here are a few major ways getting outside impacts us all:

Creativity

Studies show that unstructured outdoor play lets kids discover how to use their imagination and teaches resiliency. Because elements of nature don’t have specific guidelines for play, there are no “right” ways to play so just like process-based art projects, imagination is unlimited. Unstructured playing with siblings or friends encourages kids to figure out their own rules, navigate power dynamics, figure out boundaries, and take chances, which directly relate to developing creative thinking and inter-personal skills.

Empathy

Through observation and directed experiences, the natural world encourages kids to notice subtleties outside themselves and naturally want to explore more. On a walk, ask kids what they notice around them, observe what other living things are doing or how they’re responding to the surroundings, or set kids up to take care of a plant- like planting flowers or growing seeds in a garden or windowsill. In nature is the perfect learning ground to start realizing how actions impact other living things.

Regulation

When I step outside my apartment building and feel the sun, or even just open the window to let the breeze in on a nice day, my body relaxes. Stimulation from nature is wholly different than what you experience through screens, or in a busy city center where your attention is required to be very specifically directed in order to stay safe. All the senses are engaged with a softer focus, and can bring about a sense of wonder. Unstructured space encourages kids to move their bodies in ways that indoor life might not condone: swinging and leaping and running and tumbling around helps kids get the movement they need to regulate their bodies and minds. Studies show that learning actually happens better outside, but even a short time outside benefits learning, attention, and focus once returning indoors.

For some outdoor learning inspiration, check out this outdoor classroom artist Meta Gary created with Paint Love and The Creatives Project at Austell Elementary School!

Nature-themed art projects

More Resources:

Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature- from the Child Mind Institute

The Perks of a Play-in-the-Mud Educational Philosophy - from the Atlantic

Ideas for Getting Your Kids Into Nature- from the Child Mind Institute

How Nature Helps Kids Learn - from the Greater Good Center at UC Berkeley