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Nature As a Healer and Stress Reducer, What Research Says

Utne Reader's issue of November-December, 2003, contained a very interesting series of seven articles on parenting ("The Art of Imperfect Parenting," "Land of the Lost Parents," "Underground Toddlers?"), but the one that caught my eye was, "How Nature Heals Us: New evidence that natural beauty, even in small doses, reduces stress." This article cited a study by Andrea Faber Taylor of children living in a housing project in Chicago:

"The children she studied were all from the same socioeconomic bracket: all were African American; all lived in virtually identical apartments to which their families had been randomly assigned; and all lived on the second, third or fourth floors, the best levels for viewing nature. The only difference was that some apartments overlooked trees and grass while others overlooked pavement.

"Girls who could see nature were better able to concentrate and to control impulsive behavior, as measured in standard psychological tests. These behaviors tend to help children resist peer pressure and sexual pressure, and help in other challenging situations.

" 'Our theory was that the public housing is a very fatiguing environment,' says Faber Taylor. 'It turns out that small amounts of greenery seem to make a big difference. You don't have to live in Sherwood Forest to enjoy nature's benefits.'

"By creating more green spaces, particularly in urban areas, we could minimize, or at least buffer, the stress of everyday life and long-term costs in terms of mental and physical health associated with stress. . . ."
What can you do to naturalize your outdoor environment? We can help you do inexpensive things that can make a big difference in your outdoor play environment.

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