Encouraging kids to play outside is an efficient means of protecting the environment. A new study suggests that children who play outside grow up to be adults who love nature.
The research was carried out at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, and its results were published in the Australian Journal of Environmental Education.
Kids Who Play Outside Aware Of Environmental Protection
The researchers carried out a survey about positive experiences in nature. According to the results, 87 percent of the respondents who played outside as children answered that they continued to love nature as young adults. Inside this group, 84 percent of the nature lovers declared that protecting the environment is a priority.
As part of the research, the scientists interviewed 50 university students, aged 18 to 25, and 100 percent of the females noted they either loved or somewhat loved nature. Additionally, 87 percent of the males declared the same.
The researchers believe that awareness programs among young people are necessary for this population to develop a mentality aimed at protecting the environment, while being aware of the benefits that come along with collectively being responsible citizens. Programs such as Boy Scouts or Girl Guides are believed to be helpful in educating the young minds about preserving the environment.
"The findings illustrated connections between childhood experiences in nature and later views of, and actions towards, the environment. The correlations between expressed views about caring for the environment and environmentally friendly actions were surprising, however, as actions did not necessarily align with beliefs," noted the research.
However, more research will have to be carried out in order to determine whether the conclusion of this study was somewhat coincidental or it applies on a larger scale.
Should the results of this study be universally applied, the findings could improve our ways of raising more environmentally responsible children. This type of information could benefit many countries, as it could help international teams of environmentalists create more effective programs.
Environmental awareness is highly prioritized among many countries, and educating children when it comes to this issue could translate into more responsible citizens in the decades to come.
Catherine Broom, assistant professor at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, who led the research, noted that early childhood classroom activities should create a connection between positive experiences kids have in nature and mindful awareness that their actions can play an important role in protecting the environment in their day-by-day activities, such as recycling or using alternative transportation.
Children And Environmental Education
A previous study carried out among third and fifth grade participants in the Open Spaces as Learning Places program in New Haven, Connecticut, showed that there is a significantly positive effect when it comes to students's awareness of the local environment. The study was published in 2010 in The Journal of Environmental Education and described the main demographic for which these changes in the attitude toward environmental protection are translated into actions.
The study showed that children have a higher interest in understanding and fixing environmental issues. At the same time, improvements in environmental awareness following this program appeared only among children who lived in high socioeconomic neighborhoods.
