Research

Research into the importance of nature play, learning outdoors, risk-taking and children's mental and physical health and wellbeing forms the basis for the work we do.

Here you'll find the latest scientific research that shows the benefits of nature play for our children!

Use the Search function, or click on a keyword in Resource Categories to find research about a particular subject.

Nature Play WA's Research

Outdoor Learning, Outdoor Play and the School Environment Literature Review

By Katherine Healy | June 21, 2023 | Comments Off on Outdoor Learning, Outdoor Play and the School Environment Literature Review

Nature Play WA undertook a comprehensive literature review for the Education Department of WA that considers three critical elements to improving student experience and learning in school settings: outdoor learning, outdoor play and the school environment.

Digital Wellbeing Literature Review

By Katherine Healy | April 7, 2021 | Comments Off on Digital Wellbeing Literature Review

Nature Play WA, in conjunction with researchers from the Telethon Kids Institute, has created a ‘what you need to know’ guide for parents on the impacts of excessive screen time, highlighting new and relevant research in a clear and easy-to-understand manner.

Muddy Hands Australia Report

By Katherine Healy | February 11, 2021 | Comments Off on Muddy Hands Australia Report

This report, written to support Australia’s Outdoor Classroom Day, sets out not only a snapshot report on how much more playtime Australian children are getting compared to everyone else, but also an overview of why outdoor learning and play is so very important.

Curated Research

Effects of nature on restorative and cognitive benefits in indoor environment

This study investigates the effects of natural exposure in an indoor environment on restorative quality and cognitive ability.

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The intensification of parenting and generational fracturing of spontaneous physical activity from childhood play in the United Kingdom

Despite an increased drive over the past two decades in Western societies to promote children’s physically active play to improve their health, there are concerns that childhood has become less physically active.

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Greening of Daycare Yards with Biodiverse Materials Affords Well-Being, Play and Environmental Relationships

Nature contacts are recognized as positively contributing to humans’ health and well-being. Although there have been projects to green daycare or schoolyards, yard greening and microbial biodiversity have never been studied simultaneously.

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Immunological resilience and biodiversity for prevention of allergic diseases and asthma

Increase of allergic conditions has occurred at the same pace with the Great Acceleration, which stands for the rapid growth rate of human activities upon earth from 1950s. Changes of environment and lifestyle along with escalating urbanization are acknowledged as the main underlying causes.

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Inequalities in urban greenness and epigenetic aging: Different associations by race and neighborhood socioeconomic status

A photo of a grassed section of the reserve. Many kinds of trees can be seen with different coloured bark, ranging from dark brown to light grey. All the trees have lush green foliage. A wooden picnic table and benches can be seen amongst the trees. The sky above is clear and blue

Slower epigenetic aging is associated with exposure to green space (greenness); however, the longitudinal relationship has not been well studied, particularly in minority groups.

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Outdoor Learning, Outdoor Play and the School Environment Literature Review

Nature Play WA undertook a comprehensive literature review for the Education Department of WA that considers three critical elements to improving student experience and learning in school settings: outdoor learning, outdoor play and the school environment.

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Parent and early childhood educator perspectives of unstructured nature play for young children: A qualitative descriptive study

Nature play is growing in popularity, with many early childhood settings transforming their outdoor play environments to incorporate more natural elements.

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Mechanisms underlying childhood exposure to blue spaces and adult subjective well-being: An 18-country analysis

Abstract Contact with natural environments is associated with good health and well-being. Although childhood nature experiences may be important in the development of an individual’s relationship with nature and subsequent well-being, previous studies have tended to focus on ‘nature’ in general, and the mechanisms by which childhood experiences influence well-being in adulthood remain insufficiently studied. […]

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Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment reveals mental health benefits of birdlife

The mental health benefits of everyday encounters with birdlife for mental health are poorly understood. Previous studies have typically relied on retrospective questionnaires or artificial set-ups with little ecological validity. In the present study, we used the Urban Mind smartphone application to examine the impact of seeing or hearing birds on self-reported mental wellbeing in real-life contexts.

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How nature nurtures: Amygdala activity decreases as the result of a one-hour walk in nature

Since living in cities is associated with an increased risk for mental disorders such as anxiety disorders, depression, and schizophrenia, it is essential to understand how exposure to urban and natural environments affects mental health and the brain.

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We Acknowledge
Nature Play WA acknowledges the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation, as the custodians of the land where our team lives and works. We also acknowledge the traditional custodians throughout Western Australia and recognise the continuing connection of Indigenous people to their land, waters, sky, culture and community. We pay our respect to all Indigenous people of this land; ancestors, elders and young ones.