Nature Nurtures Happier Kids; Nature Games For You & Your Family
Studies show that children who spend more time outdoors experience lower levels of anxiety, improved focus, and stronger immune systems. Exposure to natural light and unstructured play boosts mood-regulating chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. It also creates happier children which equals less stress for parents, carers and teachers. Wellness coach, forest bathing expert and children's author Nigel Grimes is helping families rediscover the joy of slow time outdoors without screens, pressure or perfection. Even a couple of hours per week in woodlands, parks, gardens or small community green spaces will support your family’s mental, cognitive and physical health.
Nigel comments: “We’re learning that nature doesn’t just make children happy, it makes them healthier and more resilient. Every moment outdoors is medicine for mind, body and heart. Plus, when children learn to love nature they also learn to care about nature which can only make for a happier, healthier planet”.
Time in nature boosts children’s mental health, confidence and physical resilience. Unstructured play and getting dirty outdoors also help build stronger immune systems and a natural balance to today’s highly sanitised lifestyles. Outdoor, unstructured play enhances emotional resilience and reduces stress, gross and fine motor skill development, immune system strength through natural exposure and attention, focus and cognitive growth.
Nature Games/Mindful Moments For You & Your Family (no water-based activities needed!)
Try A Sound Scavenger Hunt
Take note of nature’s noises - what can you hear? Birds? Leaves? A stream? Work out which direction the sounds are coming from. Did you know that flowing water is the most calming sound to listen to? Birdsong is also very calming.
Embark On A Texture Trail
Find something soft, something hard, one rough, one smooth, one hairy and one tickly. Did you know that touch is the first sense to develop before we are born?
Move Mindfully
Walk slowly, walk backwards, walk on all fours like a fox and crawl like a worm. Did you know that ants are one of very few animals that can easily walk backwards?
Seeing the Unseen
Without moving your eyes or head, try to see what’s above and below your eye level and to the left and right. Notice what is there but you hadn’t spotted before. Did you know that amongst mammals, human eyes are the best at seeing shades of green? And that lets us enjoy a wonderful feeling of calm.
Breathe with a Tree
Put your hand on a tree trunk. Breathe in and out slowly through your nose. Did you know trees breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen, the opposite to people?
Pressing Leaves
Take home a favourite fallen leaf as a souvenir and press it if you can. Did you know that the insect family Phylliidae is referred to as the ‘walking leaf’ as it has evolved a remarkable camouflage to make it look like a leaf?
How To Make A Little Tree Community Circle
Make a circle together. Stand tall like trees. Close your eyes.
Take a soft breath in and out of your nose.
Imagine roots growing from your feet, going down into the ground.
Now let your roots reach out and touch the roots of the trees next to you.
All the trees are holding hands under the soil.
If one tree feels tired or sad, the other trees share their food, water, strength and kindness to help. Every tree is cared for — big or small, young or old, no matter the colour. Feel how safe it is to be part of the forest family. Now bring your roots back in, open your eyes, and give a little smile.
Looking from Your Heart
Look at your favourite thing in nature — maybe a flower, a tall tree, a lovely view or a tiny animal. Now, imagine you have eyes in your chest — your heart eyes! Look at your favourite thing through your heart eyes. How does it make you feel? Warm? Happy? Calm? Your heart eyes help you see with kindness and love — and you can use them when you look at people too.
Did you know that while humans have one main brain, scientists have discovered that we also have two other clever centres that think and feel in their own ways? The gut and heart “brains.” We can use all three to share our thoughts, feelings and sensations.
Share Your Forest Adventure
Draw yourself in a forest. What animals do you see? What colours do you notice? What do you feel? Or maybe write about and share your own story of the Forest’s Secret.
Nigel’s debut children’s book The Forest’s Secret: Helping Children Discover the Magic of Nature is the first UK-originated children’s picture book to integrate forest bathing, sensory mindfulness, and research-backed wellbeing guidance in one accessible, story-led format. The book can be purchased via Amazon, paperback copies RRP £12.99 and hardback £19.99.
Find out more about Nigel’s work as a forest bathing expert by clicking here.