5 Ways Nature Impacts a Child's Learning

Talk to almost anyone over the age of 30, and you’ll likely hear stories about the freedom they had to play outdoors as kids. I’m no exception. I spent countless hours with my best friend, wandering her family’s wooded property with snacks in our backpacks and curiosity as our guide. We played by the lake, learning firsthand how sturdy a branch needs to be to keep you from falling into cold November water. We discovered that snakes love to sun themselves along the shore, and that concrete blocks should always be inspected before lifting—just in case something’s already made it a home. Every stick, stone, and shadow became part of our adventures. Nature was our playground and our teacher.

Now, as an educator, I’ve taught in a range of school environments, with varying play areas and levels of access to nature. At one public middle school, we had to campaign just to give students a single 25-minute recess on Fridays. Their “play space” was a flat, open strip between buildings, where they could walk, talk, and maybe kick a soccer ball.

In contrast, my current school sits on nearly three wooded acres, dotted with Magnolia, Oak, and Pine trees. Here, children run along dirt trails, leap off logs, and explore ivy-covered paths. There’s a willow-branch nest, a chicken coop, stone walkways, and fairy gardens in every corner. It’s a landscape that invites imagination and movement.

But the lesson is this: children in both schools—regardless of setting or zip code—deserve daily access to wild, green space. Their need to connect with nature doesn’t change just because the scenery does.

So why does this kind of play matter so much? The truth is, nature-based play isn’t just fun—it’s foundational. Here are the top five reasons it’s essential for student growth and well-being:

1. Relieves Stress

Have you ever noticed how a gentle rainstorm, the sway of a tree, or the crackle of a fire can instantly put you at ease? There’s actually a reason for that. According to Attention Restoration Theory (ART), humans evolved within natural environments, which makes us naturally drawn to—and calmed by—these kinds of spaces. Studies have shown that spending time in nature helps lower physical stress and mental fatigue. And when children feel more relaxed, the quality of their play (yes, play quality is a real thing!) improves, leading to deeper, more imaginative experiences (Ulrich, 1983; Kaplan, 1995; Berto, 2014).

2. Builds Confidence

When kids have the opportunity to take risks during play, they build agency. Climbing trees, hopping over rocks, building forts, and caring for bugs and animals have inherent risks, but when kids have the opportunity to test the physical limits of the fort or determine which rock is too slippery, they are testing and expanding their boundaries, problem-solving, and learning to trust their own solutions. (McCree et al.)

3. Improves Fine and Gross Motor Skills

Running, climbing, balancing, tying, cutting, carrying, and building are ways in which children practice using their smaller (fine) and larger (gross) muscle groups. In one recess, I can observe children tying a rope, creating scenes with leaves, twigs, and acorns, climbing trees, transporting branches from one location to another, gathering eggs from the chicken coop, running across campus, and dodging branches and roots. These activities don’t just build strength—they help refine coordination, balance, and agility.

4. Improves Cognition

This is the process by which we learn new information through experiences, senses, and thought. Some studies, Puhakka et al. (2019),  found that increasing biodiversity and greenery in schoolyards led to more explorative, multi-sensory play and stronger early academic skills, like counting (Puhakka et al., 2019). Another study showed that after three years of weekly forest school sessions, students displayed significant gains in reading, writing, and math compared to peers who did not participate (McCree et al., 2018). In my own classroom, I see this every day—outdoor play sparks a level of creativity that often goes beyond anything we can create indoors. 

5. Social-Emotional Learning

When children reflect on their time in nature, they often describe feelings of joy, well-being, and excitement. They show confidence and comfort in these natural spaces, especially when they can teach others about them: pointing out which flowers are in bloom, explaining seasonal changes, knowing what treats the chickens can eat, or tracking down the ripest blackberries and honeysuckle. These experiences help build empathy, resilience, and a deeper connection to the world around them.

Source:

Prins, Jannette, et al. “Nature Play in Early Childhood Education: A Systematic Review and Meta Ethnography of Qualitative Research.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 13, no. 13, 10 Nov. 2022, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9687100/, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.995164.