Links to research
A call for “wild” playgrounds, highlighting research that children are born with an instinct to take risks in play as crucial to our evolutionary survival. Mollycoddling them only will only mean they will seek these risk taking thrills elsewhere. Brilliant article summing up research into the benefits of giving children opportunities to access risk taking for themselves. http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/03/hey-parents-leave-those-kids-alone/358631/
The Children and Nature Network (C&NN) Latest news and researchwww.childrenandnature.org
They have done a wonderful job collating the large amount of research and putting it together in one document! http://www.childrenandnature.org/downloads/CECCNNWorldwideResearch.pdf
www.openspace.eca.ac.uk Research and report to show importance of free play in open spaces for teenagers
http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/website/forestresearch.nsf/ByUnique/INFD-5Z3JVZ Evaluation of the benefits to children in a Forest school education in England and Wales
On going survey researching into children’s mental health www.childrenssociety.org.uk/all_about_us/how_we_do_it/the_good_childhood_inquiry/about_the_good_childhood_inquiry/2254.html
Articles highlighting the importance of outdoor play
The Independent How to let your children run freehttp://www.independent.co.uk/environment/how-to-let-your-children-run-free-509400.html
Guardian Unlimited Government’s advice to parents: make sure your child plays conkershttp://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2129033,00.html
BBC News “No outdoor play hurts children”www.childrenandnature.org/index.php?/news/detail/no_outdoor_play_hurts_children
The Telegraph Danger from our ‘cotton-wool kids’http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1541803/The-danger-from-our-%27cotton-wool-kids%27.html
The Guardian In need of an unlevel playing fieldhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1541383,00.html
The Telegraph “Modern Life leads to more depression among children”www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1528639/Modern-life-leads-to-more-depression-among-children.html
The Telegraph “Let our children play” letter to telegraph www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/09/10/nosplit/dt1001.xml
The Sydney Morning Herald – Australians study nature deficit disorderhttp://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/the-benefit-of-nature-on-nurture/2008/05/20/1211182801366.html
The Daily Telegraph “Go outside and get dirty, National Trust tell children” – National Trust launches campaign to get children outdoors.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/children_shealth/4734728/National-Trust-launches-campaign-to-get-children-outdoors.html
www.farmsforcitychildren.co.uk Children’s writer Michael Morpurgo and his wife Clare founded the charity Farms for City Children back in 1976. We offer urban children from schools all over the country a unique chance to live and work together for a whole seven days on one of three real farms in the heart of the countryside. An amazing, life-changing week of ‘muck and magic’ on the farm.
www.forestschools.com Get all the latest forest school news, find your nearest school or learn how to set up your own
www.forestschoolassociation.org
www.kidsloveearth.co.uk Online shop supplying equipment games and books to encourage children to play outside
www.muddyfaces.co.uk Environmental education newsletter, consultations on health and safety and risk assessments and an online shop to support outdoor play and education
www.wildchilddesigns.co.uk Imaginative handcrafted structures using the natural beauty of wood
American organisation connecting children with nature and promoting importance of outdoor play www.childrenandnature.org
https://www.aaastateofplay.com/outdoor-hiking-for-beginners/ Good easy to follow tips if you are new to hiking with children.