Study: Time in Nature Benefits Kids with Mental Health Challenges

There’s yet another study that proves spending time in green space is good for our health and well-being…something the TurfMutt Foundation has been touting for 15 years. Researchers from McGill and Université de Montréal’s Observatoire pour l’éducation et la santé des enfants (OPES, or observatory on children’s health and education) discovered that kids who spend two hours a week of class time in a natural environment have reduced emotional distress.

The researchers studied over 500 Quebec school children aged 10-12 in the spring of 2023. They analyzed the effects of spending time in nature on the children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. The children’s teachers reported that the students were more relaxed, calm, and attentive after spending time in nature. The educators noticed the biggest change in behavior in the children with the most significant problems at the onset of the study. Those challenges included anxiety, depression, aggression, and social issues.

Read more about this study here.

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