Effects of an urban forest-based health promotion program on children living in group homes

Forest-based intervention programs can be effective in promoting the psychosocial health of vulnerable children

Song, M. K., Bang, K.S., Kim, S., Lee, G., Jeong, Y., (2020). Effects of an urban forest-based health promotion program on children living in group homes. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 58(6), 18-29.

Neighborhood greenspace influences on childhood obesity in Sheffield, UK

Higher tree density around residential addresses and higher levels of greenspace slightly further afield are significantly associated with lower levels of childhood obesity

Mears, M., Brindley, P., Baxter, I., Maheswaran, R., Jorgensen, A., (2020). Neighborhood greenspace influences on childhood obesity in Sheffield, UK. Pediatric Obesity, 15(7)

The lasting impacts of outdoor adventure residential experiences on young people

Lasting impacts of outdoor adventure residentials on young people include self-confidence, independence, and communication.

Prince, H. E., (2020). The lasting impacts of outdoor adventure residential experiences on young people. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning

Are children actually losing contact with nature, or is it that their experiences differ from those of 120 years ago?

Contemporary children’s experience of nature (which includes mediated experiences) is significantly higher than the experience of nature for children in 1900

Novotný, P., Zimová, E., Mazouchová, A., Šorgo, A., (2020). Are children actually losing contact with nature, or is it that their experiences differ from those of 120 years ago?. Environment and Behavior

A systematic review of alternative protocols for evaluating non-spatial dimensions of urban parks

Current protocols for assessing non-spatial aspects of urban parks may be helpful for landscape planning and design; yet further research and development are warranted

Chen, S., Sleipness, O., Xu, Y., Park, K., Christensen, K., (2020). A systematic review of alternative protocols for evaluating non-spatial dimensions of urban parks. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 53

Impacts of urban landscapes on students' academic performance

Students' educational outcomes are linked to the level of green and blue spaces in the schools' attendance areas

Lin, M., Van Stan II, J. T., (2020). Impacts of urban landscapes on students' academic performance. Landscape and Urban Planning, 201

The impact of a short-term nature-based education program on young children’s biophilic tendencies

A short-term environmental education program increased children’s affinity for nature

Yılmaz, S., Çığ, O., Yılmaz-Bolat, E., (2020). The impact of a short-term nature-based education program on young children’s biophilic tendencies. Ilkogretim Online - Elementary Education Online, 19(3), 1729-1739.

Contact with Nature can help ADHD children to cope with their symptoms. The state of the evidence and future directions for research

Nature contact can help alleviate ADHD symptoms, but more rigorous and nuanced research is needed

Di Carmine, F., Berto, R., (2020). Contact with Nature can help ADHD children to cope with their symptoms. The state of the evidence and future directions for research. Visions for Sustainability

5th-10th-grade in-service teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) for sustainable development in outdoor environment

A group of teachers in Norway rarely linked their outdoor teaching practices to sustainable development

Aksland, C., Rundgren, S. N. C., (2020). 5th-10th-grade in-service teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) for sustainable development in outdoor environment. Journal of Adventure Eduction and Outdoor Learning, 20(3), 274-283.

Risk-tasking and assessment in toddlers during nature play: The role of family and play context

Parents’ views of risky play influence toddlers’ risk-taking outdoor play behaviors

Murray, E. J., Williams, P. H., (2020). Risk-tasking and assessment in toddlers during nature play: The role of family and play context. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 20(3), 259-273.

Nature relatedness in student teachers, perceived competence and willingness to teach outdoors: An empirical study

Student teachers’ nature connectedness and their perceived competence and willingness to teach outdoors are positively associated

Barrable, A., Lakin, L., (2020). Nature relatedness in student teachers, perceived competence and willingness to teach outdoors: An empirical study. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 20(3), 189-201.

Impact of residential green space on sleep quality and sufficiency in children and adolescents residing in Australia and Germany

Children and adolescents living in greener areas in two different countries did not have higher odds of more positive sleep outcomes

Feng, X., Flexeder, C., Markevych, I., Standl, M., Heinrich, J., Schikowski, T., Koletzko, S., Herberth, G., Bauer, C.P., Von Berg, A., Berdel, D., Astell-Burt, T., (2020). Impact of residential green space on sleep quality and sufficiency in children and adolescents residing in Australia and Germany. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(13), 1-16.

Connecting high school students with nature – How different guided tours in the zoo influence the success of extracurricular educational programs

Zoo-based education programs can be effective in promoting connection to nature for high school students

Kleespies, M.W., Gübert, J., Popp, A., Hartmann, N., Dietz, C., Spengler, T., Becker, M., Dierkes, P.W., (2020). Connecting high school students with nature – How different guided tours in the zoo influence the success of extracurricular educational programs. Frontiers in Psychology, 11

Green space access in the neighbourhood and childhood obesity

Literature review provides evidence that greater access to green space predicts higher levels of physical activity and less TV watching, but inconclusive evidence for weight-related outcomes

Jia, P., Cao, X., Yang, H., Dai, Shaoqing, He, P., Huang, G., Wu, T., Wang, Y., (2020). Green space access in the neighbourhood and childhood obesity. Obesity Reviews

From childhood nature experiences to adult pro-environmental behaviors: An explanatory model of sustainable food consumption

Childhood nature experiences can influence sustainable food consumption choices later in life

Molinario, E., Lorenzi, C., Bartoccioni, F., Perucchini, P., Bobeth, S., Colléony, A., Diniz, R., Eklund, A., Jaeger, C., Kibbe, A., Richter, I., Ruepert, A., Sloot, D., Udall, A. M., Bonaiuto, M., (2020). From childhood nature experiences to adult pro-environmental behaviors: An explanatory model of sustainable food consumption. Environmental Education Research, 26(8), 1137-1163.

Forest as a specific place for girls and their green criticism

The relationship between girls and a forest promotes environmental activism

Salo, U-M., (2020). Forest as a specific place for girls and their green criticism. Children's Geographies, 19(4), 407–418.

The equity of urban forest ecosystem services and benefits in the Bronx, NY

Disadvantaged communities experience fewer ecosystem services and benefits from urban tree cover

Nyelele, C., Kroll, C. N., (2020). The equity of urban forest ecosystem services and benefits in the Bronx, NY. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 53

How combinations of recreational activities predict connection to nature among youth

Solitary outdoor activities, reinforced by environmental socialization, may best promote connectedness to nature

Szczytko, R., Stevenson, K.T., Peterson, M.N., Bondell, H., (2020). How combinations of recreational activities predict connection to nature among youth. The Journal of Environmental Education

Childhood nature connection and constructive hope: A review of research on connecting with nature and coping with environmental loss

Research on connection with nature and coping with environmental change can benefit from integration

Chawla, L., (2020). Childhood nature connection and constructive hope: A review of research on connecting with nature and coping with environmental loss. People and Nature

Residential green space and child intelligence and behavior across urban, suburban, and rural areas in Belgium: A longitudinal birth cohort study of twins

Low residential green space is associated with a “shift” towards a higher incidence of low IQ in urban children

Bijnens, E.M., Derom, C., Thiery, E., Weyers, S., Nawrot, S., (2020). Residential green space and child intelligence and behavior across urban, suburban, and rural areas in Belgium: A longitudinal birth cohort study of twins. PLOS Medicine, 17(8)

Being and becoming in nature: Defining and measuring connection to nature in young children

Young children often express the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive dimensions of connection to nature differently than adults and older children

Beery, T., Chawla, L., Leven, P., (2020). Being and becoming in nature: Defining and measuring connection to nature in young children. International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 7(3), 3-22.

'That's given me a bit more hope' - adolescent girls' experiences of Forest School

Forest School improves mental health and well-being according to adolescent girls with mental health risk factors

Manner, J., Doi, L., Laird, Y., (2020). 'That's given me a bit more hope' - adolescent girls' experiences of Forest School. Children's Geographies

What is the evidence base for integrating health and environmental approaches in the school context to nurture healthier and more environmentally aware young people? A systematic scoping review of global evidence

Integrated approaches used by schools to promote both human health and environmentally aware students are underexplored, and evidence of their effectiveness remain fragmented

Proctor, R., Guell, C., Wyatt, K., Williams, A. J., (2020). What is the evidence base for integrating health and environmental approaches in the school context to nurture healthier and more environmentally aware young people? A systematic scoping review of global evidence. Health & Place, 64

Restorative effects of urban park soundscapes on children’s psychophysiological stress

Urban park soundscapes can help children recover from stress, with significant differences between boys and girls

Shu, S., Ma, H., (2020). Restorative effects of urban park soundscapes on children’s psychophysiological stress. Applied Acoustics, 164

Children with autism in wild nature: Exploring Australian parent perceptions using Photovoice

Parents of children with autism identify benefits and barriers associated with spending time in nature

Galbraith, C., Lancaster, J., (2020). Children with autism in wild nature: Exploring Australian parent perceptions using Photovoice. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education

Nature prescriptions for health: A review of evidence and research opportunities

Nature prescription programs are growing faster than the evidence base to support and guide such programs

Kondo, M.C., Oyekanmi, K.O., Gibson, A., South, E.C., Bocarro, J., Hipp, J.A., (2020). Nature prescriptions for health: A review of evidence and research opportunities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17

Urban trees and human health: A scoping review

Urban forests contribute to human health by reducing harm, restoring capacities, and building capacities

Wolf, K.L., Lam, S.T., McKeen, J.K., Richardson, G.R.A., van den Bosch, M., Bardekjian, A.C., (2020). Urban trees and human health: A scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(12)

Psychological impacts of "screen time" and "green time" for children and adolescents: A systematic scoping review

Screen time and green time are linked to psychological well-being in contrasting ways

Oswald, T. K., Rumbold, A. R., Kedzior, S. G. E., Moore, V. M., (2020). Psychological impacts of "screen time" and "green time" for children and adolescents: A systematic scoping review. PLOS ONE, 15(9), 1-52.

Association of greenspace exposure with telomere length in preschool children

Greenspace exposure and telomere length are positively linked in preschool children

Miri, M., Prado-Bert, P. D., Alahabadi, A., Najafi, M. L., Rad, A., Moslem, A., Aval, H. E., Ehrampoush, M. H., Bustamante, M., Sakhvidi, M. J. Z., Nawrot, T., Sunyer, J., Dadvand, P., (2020). Association of greenspace exposure with telomere length in preschool children. Environmental Pollution, 266, 1-10.

Greening schoolyards - An urban resilience perspective

Using a resilience frame to explore greening schoolyard initiatives can support the strengthening of systems at different scales

Flax, L., Altes, R. K., Kupers, R., Mons, B., (2020). Greening schoolyards - An urban resilience perspective. Cities, 106

Gardens as science learning contexts across educational stages: Learning assessment based on students' graphic representations

Educational gardens offer appropriate real-life contexts for science and environmental teaching from preschool through higher education

Eugenio-Gozalbo, M., Aragón, L., Ortega-Cubero, L., (2020). Gardens as science learning contexts across educational stages: Learning assessment based on students' graphic representations. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1-14.

Hands-on ecological restoration as a nature-based health intervention: Reciprocal restoration for people and ecosystems

Research focusing on restoration for both people and ecosystems can help fill a major gap in the academic literature

Nabhan, G. P., Orlando, L., Monti, L. S., Aronson, J., (2020). Hands-on ecological restoration as a nature-based health intervention: Reciprocal restoration for people and ecosystems. Ecopsychology, 12(3), 195-202.

Healthy movement behaviors in children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic: Exploring the role of the neighborhood environment

Certain features of the built environment are associated with increased or decreased physical activity of Canadian children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic

Mitra, R., Moore, S. A., Gillespie, M., Faulkner, G., Vanderloo, L. M., Chulak-Bozzer, T., Rhodes, R. E., Brussoni, M., Tremblay, M. S., (2020). Healthy movement behaviors in children and youth during the COVID-19 pandemic: Exploring the role of the neighborhood environment. Health and Place, 65

Regional differences in access to the outdoors and outdoor play of Canadian children and youth during the COVID-19 outbreak

Canadian provinces with more stringent COVID-related restrictions on outdoor behavior had the greatest decline in outdoor play among children and youth

Lannoy, L. D., Rhodes, R. E., Moore, S. A., Faulkner, G., Tremblay, M. S., (2020). Regional differences in access to the outdoors and outdoor play of Canadian children and youth during the COVID-19 outbreak. Canadian Journal of Public Health

Parental/guardians' connection to nature better predicts children's nature connectedness than visits or area-level characteristics

Children’s nature connectedness is most strongly associated with parents’ connection to nature

Passmore, H., Martin, L., Richardson, M., White, M., Hunt, A., Pahl, S., (2020). Parental/guardians' connection to nature better predicts children's nature connectedness than visits or area-level characteristics. Ecopsychology, 13(2), 103-113.

Play within outdoor preschool learning environments of Greece: A comparative study on current and prospective Kindergarten Educators

Current and future Greek preschool teachers acknowledge outdoor play benefits but their ideas for promoting play differ

Sakellariou, M., Banou, M., (2020). Play within outdoor preschool learning environments of Greece: A comparative study on current and prospective Kindergarten Educators. Early Child Development and Care, 192(6), 887-903.

Urban nature in a time of crisis: Recreational use of green space increases during the COVID-19 outbreak in Oslo, Norway

Recreational use of green space increased dramatically during COVID-19 in Oslo, Norway

Venter, Z. S., Barton, D. N., Gundersen, V., Figari, H., Nowell, M., (2020). Urban nature in a time of crisis: Recreational use of green space increases during the COVID-19 outbreak in Oslo, Norway. Environmental Research Letters, 15

Biodiversity intervention enhances immune regulation and health-associated commensal microbiota among daycare children

Adding biodiverse elements to a play yard can enhance preschoolers’ immune systems

Roslund, M.I., Puhakka, R., Grönroos, M., Nurminen, N., Oikarinen, S., Gazali, A.M., Cinek, O., Kramná, L., Siter, N., Vari, H.K., Soininen, L., Parajuli, A., Rajaniemi, J., Kinnunen, T., Laitinen, O.H., (2020). Biodiversity intervention enhances immune regulation and health-associated commensal microbiota among daycare children. Science Advances, 6(42)

Greening for academic achievement: Prioritizing what to plant and where

Trees on and near school grounds are positively linked to academic achievement of sixth-grade students

Kuo, M., Klein, S. E., Browning, M. H., Zaplatosch, J., (2021). Greening for academic achievement: Prioritizing what to plant and where. Landscape and Urban Planning, 206

The impact of COVID-19 on public space: An early review of the emerging questions - design, perceptions and inequities

The COVID-19 pandemic experience could potentially change urban public space perceptions, planning, and use

Honey-Rosés, J., Anguelovski, I., Chireh, V. K., Daher, C., van den Bosch, C. K., Litt, J. S., Mawani, V., McCall, M. K., Orellana, A., Oscilowicz, E., Sánchez, U., Senbel, M., Tan, X., Villagomez, E., Zapata, O., (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on public space: An early review of the emerging questions - design, perceptions and inequities. Cities and Health

Analysing the state of student participation in two Eco-Schools using Engeström’s Second Generation Activity Systems Model

An activity-based “whole institution” approach may promote student engagement in Eco-School programs

Schröder, L, U., Wals, A. E. J., van Koppen, C. S. A., (2020). Analysing the state of student participation in two Eco-Schools using Engeström’s Second Generation Activity Systems Model. Environmental Education Research, 26(8), 1088-1111.

Greenness surrounding schools and adisposity in children and adolescents: Findings from a national population-based study in China

Higher school-based greenness levels in China are associated with healthier weight in children and adolescents

Bao, W., Yang, B., Zou, Z., Ma, J., Jing, J., Wang, H., Luo, J., Zhang, X., Luo, C., Wang, H., Zhao, H., Pan, D., Gui, Z., Zhang, J., Guo, Y., (2021). Greenness surrounding schools and adisposity in children and adolescents: Findings from a national population-based study in China. Environmental Research, 192

Partnering for outdoor play: A case study of forest and nature school programming in the context of licensed child care in Ottawa, Ontario

Collaborative efforts between organizations can make forest and nature school opportunities available to more children

Niblett, B., Hiscott, K., Power, M., McFarlane, H., (2020). Partnering for outdoor play: A case study of forest and nature school programming in the context of licensed child care in Ottawa, Ontario. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 23(2), 67-85.

How and why did outdoor play become a central focus of Scottish early learning and care policy

Case study reveals opportunities and barriers to the implementation of outdoor play programs in Scotland

Perlman, M., Howe, N., Bergeron, C., (2020). How and why did outdoor play become a central focus of Scottish early learning and care policy. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 23(2), 46-66.

Taking it outside: Engaging in active, creative, outdoor play with digital technology

The use of iPads by kindergarten children accompanied and added to their active and creative outdoor play, while also promoting nature connectedness

McGlynn-Stewart, M., Maguire, N., Mogyorodi, E., (2020). Taking it outside: Engaging in active, creative, outdoor play with digital technology. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 23(2), 31-45.

Are parental perceptions of risk and attitudes toward risk-taking during play associated with preschoolers' physical activity and physical literacy?

Parents’ perceptions of risky play are linked to preschoolers’ activity levels and motor skills

Stone, M. R., Webber, N., Cawley, J., Houser, N. E., Kirk, S. F. L., (2020). Are parental perceptions of risk and attitudes toward risk-taking during play associated with preschoolers' physical activity and physical literacy?. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 23(2), 10-30.

Nature as a community health tool: The case for healthcare providers and systems

Evidence linking nature and health strongly supports the idea of looking to nature as a community health tool

South, E. C., Kondo, M. C., Razani, N., (2020). Nature as a community health tool: The case for healthcare providers and systems. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 59(4), 606-610.

Accessibility and allocation of public parks and gardens in England and Wales: A COVID-19 social distancing perspective

Disparities in access to urban greenspace become more of a concern when social distancing needs to be practiced

Shoari, N., Ezzati, M., Baumgartner, J., Fecht, D., (2020). Accessibility and allocation of public parks and gardens in England and Wales: A COVID-19 social distancing perspective. PLoS ONE, 15(10)

The power of garden-based curriculum to promote scientific and nature-friendly attitudes in children through a cotton project

Garden-based projects can be effective in promoting preschool children’s scientific and nature-friendly attitudes

Kim, K. J., Jung, E., Han, M., Sohn, J., (2020). The power of garden-based curriculum to promote scientific and nature-friendly attitudes in children through a cotton project. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 34(4), 538-550.

Place-making practices for park improvements to support environmental justice in a low-income African American neighborhood

The use of place-making practices for park improvements can potentially support environmental justice in low-income minority communities

Carnahan, A. H., Groshong, L., Stanis, S. A. W., Balasubramanyam, V., Kutty, A., (2020). Place-making practices for park improvements to support environmental justice in a low-income African American neighborhood. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 38(3), 93-111.