The importance of nature in a child’s development
What is the importance of nature on a child’s development?
When we talk about giving children the best possible start in life, learning is often the first thing that comes to mind. We think about the skills they need, the confidence they should build and the foundations that will support them as they grow. What’s sometimes overlooked is where that learning happens.
Nature plays a powerful role in how children develop, not as an alternative to learning, but as the environment that brings it to life. Through fresh air and open-ended play, children are developing physically, emotionally, socially and cognitively every single day. At forest school nurseries, like Outdoor Owls, learning and nature go hand in hand, offering children the space to grow and explore in a way that feels balanced and deeply connected to who they are, an approach supported by years of research into how children learn and develop best.
How important is it for children to spend time outside?
A growing body of research shows that children have better physical, mental and emotional health and improved learning, when they play outdoors. Children who spend at least two hours a day outside engage in around 27% more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity than those who do not, supporting healthier bodies and development.
Spending time outside is fundamental to healthy development. Outdoor play supports physical health, emotional wellbeing, cognitive development and social skills all at once. Open space in the fresh air allows children to move freely, explore safely and engage their senses. Unlike indoor environments, nature constantly changes. The weather shifts, leaves fall, and insects appear and disappear. This ever-changing landscape stimulates curiosity and keeps children actively engaged in learning.
Research by the University of Exeter found that children who spend more time outdoors are more physically active, sleep better and experience lower levels of stress. Time outside also helps regulate mood, reduce anxiety and improve concentration. For young children especially, movement and sensory experiences are directly linked to brain development. Quite simply, regular time outdoors lays the groundwork for lifelong health and resilience.
At Outdoor Owls we find that children are less sick than in traditional nurseries and attendance is much better, which is obviously a big plus for working parents!
What are the benefits of nature in early childhood?
1. Physical development
Running across uneven ground, climbing trees, balancing on logs and digging in soil all develop gross motor skills, coordination and core strength. Fine motor skills are strengthened when children pick up small stones, use tools, tie knots, or create natural crafts. Outdoor environments naturally encourage more movement than indoor spaces. Children are not confined by walls or furniture. They can test their limits, build stamina and develop confidence in their physical abilities. Regular outdoor play has also been linked to improved immune function and overall health. Exposure to natural elements supports a stronger immune system and encourages healthy habits from an early age.
2. Emotional wellbeing and resilience
Nature has a calming effect on children. Open green spaces reduce overstimulation and allow children to regulate their emotions more effectively. Time outdoors can lower stress levels and support emotional balance.
Forest environments give children manageable challenges. Climbing a tree, building a den, or navigating muddy ground requires problem-solving and perseverance. When children overcome these challenges, they develop resilience and self-belief. Learning to assess risk in a supported way builds confidence. Instead of being told “don’t,” children are guided to think, evaluate and try. This fosters independence and emotional strength that carries through into later school years.
3. Cognitive growth and curiosity
Nature provides a rich and engaging learning environment that supports children’s cognitive development within a structured framework. Forest School sessions are carefully planned in line with the EYFS curriculum, ensuring that learning intentions and developmental outcomes are supported through outdoor experiences.
For example, counting sticks and natural objects promotes early numeracy skills, observing insects encourages scientific thinking, and storytelling inspired by woodland adventures strengthens literacy and language development.
While both indoor and outdoor learning follow structured educational goals, outdoor learning offers a more experiential approach. Children do not simply learn about concepts through instruction; they explore them through first-hand experiences by seeing, touching, investigating and questioning the world around them. This hands-on engagement deepens understanding and supports stronger memory retention.
Natural environments also promote sustained attention. With fewer artificial distractions, children are encouraged to focus on activities for longer periods, helping to develop concentration and problem-solving skills that are essential for school readiness.
4. Social skills and communication
Outdoor play naturally promotes collaboration. Building a shelter requires teamwork. Exploring a woodland trail encourages conversation. Shared discoveries spark communication and imagination.
In open spaces, children negotiate roles, solve disagreements and support one another. These interactions build empathy and cooperation. Children who regularly engage in nature-based learning often demonstrate higher levels of confidence when interacting with others. They are used to problem-solving together rather than relying solely on adult direction.
Why do children need to spend time in nature?
Children are biologically wired to explore. For generations, childhood meant climbing, collecting, building, and discovering outdoors. While modern life has changed, children’s developmental needs haven’t.
Nature supports their sensory systems, strengthens their bodies and provides freedom to move. It allows them to take appropriate risks and experience the satisfaction of real achievement.
Nature also nurtures creativity. A stick can become a wand, a fishing rod, or a piece of a shelter. Open-ended natural materials encourage imagination in a way that pre-made toys often cannot.
Creating future stewards of the planet
Regular contact with nature builds a lifelong connection to the environment. Children who develop this relationship early are more likely to value and care for the natural world as they grow. Forest School helps nurture the next generation of stewards of the planet by giving children regular, meaningful experiences in nature. Through exploring, observing and caring for the environment around them, children begin to develop empathy and respect for the natural world. These early experiences help them understand that humans are part of a wider ecosystem and that their actions can affect the health of the planet.
Children and nature: A powerful combination
The relationship between children and nature is both simple and powerful. When children are trusted to explore the natural world, they thrive. They learn patience while watching a snail move. They develop perseverance while trying to light a small fire safely under supervision. They gain confidence from climbing higher than they thought possible. They build friendships while constructing a den together. Nature does not rush children. It gives them time and space to develop at their own pace, which is exactly what early childhood should provide.
More information on Why Choose Forest School Nursery and Outdoor Learning?
How do forest school nurseries give children the best start?
Forest school nurseries place nature at the heart of early education. Rather than treating outdoor time as an add-on, it becomes the primary learning environment. Children spend most of their day outdoors in woodlands and green spaces, learning through exploration and play. Activities follow the Ofsted EYFS framework, yet are child-led and guided by curiosity, allowing learning to unfold naturally.
This approach supports:
Holistic development across physical, emotional, and cognitive areas
Strong school readiness through hands-on literacy and numeracy experiences
High levels of confidence and independence
Deep connection with the natural environment
By embedding the benefits of nature into everyday learning, forest school nurseries provide children with a foundation that supports lifelong wellbeing as well as academic success.
Give your child the gift of nature
If you’d like to learn more about how our forest school nursery gives children a powerful start in life, explore our main pages to discover our approach, daily routines and learning philosophy.
Or contact our team today. We would love to answer your questions and help you decide whether a nature-based start is right for your child.
Outdoor learning with Outdoor Owls
At Outdoor Owls we deliver forest school learning coupled with traditional nursery learning but all outdoors. Our settings are based in safe, inspiring natural woodland environments for children aged 6 months up until 5 years. We also provide holiday camps outside school term-times for children aged 4 to 7 years, to experience more advanced and structured activities.
We have settings based in Surrey, in Cobham and Guildford. For families living in London we also have minibus points in Fulham, Kingston, Putney,Richmond, Surbiton and Thames Ditton, where our team and children travel to our forest in Cobham to spend the day learning outdoors. Families can enquire online or speak to us on the phone and come for an onsite showaround or next scheduled open days to learn more.
