Early childhood environmental education: A systematic review of the research literature

Review of the early childhood environmental education literature presents overwhelmingly strong evidence of positive child development and environmental outcomes

Ardoin, N. M., Bowers, A. W., (2020). Early childhood environmental education: A systematic review of the research literature. Educational Research Review, 31

Children's agency and action in nature preschool: A tale of two programs

Young children, with support of early childhood educators, have the ability to be meaningfully involved in ecologically sustainable practices

Konerman, R., Elliott, S., Pugh, R., Luthy, T., Carr, V., (2021). Children's agency and action in nature preschool: A tale of two programs. Children, Youth and Environments, 31(2), 139-150.

Exploring geographical, curricular, and demographic factors of nature use by children in urban schoolyards in Raleigh, NC, USA

Simply providing nature-rich areas in schoolyards cannot guarantee the use of natural spaces by children and teachers

Zhang, Z., Stevenson, K. T., Martin, K. L., (2021). Exploring geographical, curricular, and demographic factors of nature use by children in urban schoolyards in Raleigh, NC, USA. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 65

Finnish student teachers’ ideas of outdoor learning

Finnish student teachers’ ideas align with reforms promoting sustainability and outdoor learning

Ratinen, I., Sarivaara, E., Kuukkanen, P., (2021). Finnish student teachers’ ideas of outdoor learning. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning

The importance of recognising and promoting independence in young children: The role of the environment and the Danish forest school approach

The forest school approach reflects theoretical understanding of young learners’ development of independence

Cerino, A., (2021). The importance of recognising and promoting independence in young children: The role of the environment and the Danish forest school approach. Education 3-13, 51(4), 685-694.

Green schoolyard renovations in low‐income urban neighborhoods: Benefits to students, schools, and the surrounding community

Green schoolyards may be “particularly powerful drivers of health equity by promoting well‐being at the level of the individual, school, and community.”

Bohnert, A. M., Nicholson, L. M., Mertz, L., Bates, C. R., Gerstein, D. E., (2021). Green schoolyard renovations in low‐income urban neighborhoods: Benefits to students, schools, and the surrounding community. American Journal of Community Psychology, 1-11.

Comparing the impact of nature, blended, and traditional preschools on children's resilience: Some nature may be better than none

Preschool nature experiences support young children’s resilience

Ernst, J., Juckett, H., Sobel, D., (2021). Comparing the impact of nature, blended, and traditional preschools on children's resilience: Some nature may be better than none. Frontiers in Psychology, 12

Pedagogies of outdoor spaces: An early childhood educator professional learning journey

Some early childhood educators may need extended professional development to help them appreciate the value of nature-rich environments for young children

Wishart, L., Rouse, E., (2019). Pedagogies of outdoor spaces: An early childhood educator professional learning journey. Early Child Development and Care, 189(14), 2284-2298.

Equally green? Understanding the distribution of urban green infrastructure across student demographics in four public school districts in North Carolina, USA

Schools can help mitigate environmental injustices suffered by low-income, high minority communities by increasing greenness on their property

Zhang, Z., Martin, K. L., Stevenson, K. T., Yao, Y., (2021). Equally green? Understanding the distribution of urban green infrastructure across student demographics in four public school districts in North Carolina, USA. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 67

Use of gardening programs as an intervention to increase children’s visual-motor integration

Male preschoolers may respond especially well to gardening programs in developing visual-motor integration

Sommerfeld, A. J., McFarland, A., Waliczek, T. M., Zajicek, J., (2021). Use of gardening programs as an intervention to increase children’s visual-motor integration. HortTechnology, 31(5)

Engaging school and family in Navajo gardening for health: Development of the Yéego intervention to promote healthy eating among Navajo children

Integrating Navajo traditions into the school’s nutrition and gardening lessons may help reduce obesity among Navajo children

Ornelas, I. J., Rudd, K., Bishop, S., Deschenie, D., Brown, E. Fred, Lombard, K., Beresford, S. A. A., (2021). Engaging school and family in Navajo gardening for health: Development of the Yéego intervention to promote healthy eating among Navajo children. Health Behavior and Policy Review, 8(3), 212-222.

Vegetation cover within and around schools in Santiago de Chile: Are schools helping to mitigate urban vegetation inequalities?

Schools in Santiago, Chile mimic the vegetation inequalities seen throughout the city

Fernández, I.C., Pérez-Silva, R., Villalobos-Araya, E., (2022). Vegetation cover within and around schools in Santiago de Chile: Are schools helping to mitigate urban vegetation inequalities?. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 70

Nature-based early childhood education and children’s social, emotional and cognitive development: A mixed-methods systematic review

Nature-based early childhood education may support children’s growth in multiple areas of social, emotional, and cognitive development

Johnstone, A., Martin, A., Cordovil, R., Fjørtoft, I., Iivonen, S., Jidovtseff, B., Lopes, F., Reilly, J. J., Thomson, H., Wells, V., McCrorie, P., (2022). Nature-based early childhood education and children’s social, emotional and cognitive development: A mixed-methods systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19

Nature-based instruction for science learning – a good fit for all: A controlled comparison of classroom versus nature

Nature-based instruction supports science learning for all students regardless of socioeconomic status

Faber Taylor, A., Butts-Wilmsmeyer, C., Jordan, C., (2022). Nature-based instruction for science learning – a good fit for all: A controlled comparison of classroom versus nature. Environmental Education Research

How does play in the outdoors afford opportunities for schema development in young children?

Loose parts in an outdoor environment can enhance children’s play and promote their holistic development.

Boulton, P., Thomas, A., (2022). How does play in the outdoors afford opportunities for schema development in young children?. International Journal of Play, 11(2), 184-201.

Naturally enough? Children, climate anxiety and the importance of hope

A pedagogy of hope encourages and supports children’s climate change activism

Buchanan, J., Pressick-Kilborn, K., Fergusson, J., (2021). Naturally enough? Children, climate anxiety and the importance of hope. The Social Educator, 39(3), 17-31.

"I just want to stay out there all day”: A case study of two special educators and five autistic children learning outside at school

Contact with nature during the school day can benefit both students with autism and their teachers

Friedman, S., Morrison, S. A., (2022). "I just want to stay out there all day”: A case study of two special educators and five autistic children learning outside at school. Frontiers in Education, 6

‘A new adventure’: A case study of autistic children at Forest School

Children with autism experience benefits and challenges during Forest School sessions

Friedman, S., Gibson, J., Jones, C., Hughes, C., (2022). ‘A new adventure’: A case study of autistic children at Forest School. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning

“You don’t wanna teach little kids about climate change”: Beliefs and barriers to sustainability education in early childhood

Sustainability education at nature-based preschools in the United States is limited

Ginsburg, J.L., Audley, S., (2020). “You don’t wanna teach little kids about climate change”: Beliefs and barriers to sustainability education in early childhood. International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 7(3), 42-60.

Affordances of small animals for young children: A path to environmental values of care

Affordances of small animals may promote sustainability goals for young children

Lerstrup, I., Chawla, L., Heft, H., (2021). Affordances of small animals for young children: A path to environmental values of care. International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education, 9(1), 58-76.

Effects of nature (greenspace) on cognitive functioning in school children and adolescents: a systematic review

Exposure to nature can enhance cognitive functioning in children and adolescents

Vella-Brodrick, D. A., Gilowska, K., (2022). Effects of nature (greenspace) on cognitive functioning in school children and adolescents: a systematic review. Educational Psychology Review, 34, 1217-1254.

The teacher’s role for engagement in foraging and gardening activities in kindergarten

Early childhood educators nurture young children’s enthusiasm for learning in nature

Bergan, V., Nylund, M. B., Midtbø, I. L., Paulsen, B. H. L., (2023). The teacher’s role for engagement in foraging and gardening activities in kindergarten. Environmental Education Research

Outdoor nature-based play in early learning and childcare centres: Identifying the determinants of implementation using causal loop diagrams and social network analysis

Educator confidence and agency, along with other key leveraging points, are crucial for optimal implementation of nature-based play

Zucca, C., McCrorie, P., Johnstone, A., Chambers, S., Chng, N. R., Traynor, O., Martin, A., (2023). Outdoor nature-based play in early learning and childcare centres: Identifying the determinants of implementation using causal loop diagrams and social network analysis. Health and Place, 79

Connection to nature is associated with social-emotional learning of children

Children with a strong connection to nature have higher social emotional learning skills than those with a weaker connection to nature

Lanza, K., Alcazar, M., Chen, B., Kohl III, H. W., (2023). Connection to nature is associated with social-emotional learning of children. Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, 4

Nature-based early childhood activities as environmental education?: A review of Japanese and Australian perspectives

Guidelines and practices for nature-based activities with young children tend to lack a comprehensive approach to early childhood education for sustainability

Inoue, M., Elliott, S., Mitsuhashi, M., Kido, H., (2019). Nature-based early childhood activities as environmental education?: A review of Japanese and Australian perspectives. Japanese Journal of Environmental Education, 28(4)

Teachers as learners: Outdoor elementary science

Outdoor Science Education program helps teachers learn science as 5th graders learn science

Carrier, S. J., Fraulo, A. B., Peterson, M. N., Stevenson, K. T., Romeo, L. M., (2023). Teachers as learners: Outdoor elementary science. Electronic Journal for Research in Science & Mathematics Education, 27(2), 1-24.

Elementary students’ ‘outdoor – digital’ explorations in ecology - learning through chains of transduction

Children’s learning across natural and digital environments supports developing eco-literacy

Caiman, C., Kjällander, S., (2024). Elementary students’ ‘outdoor – digital’ explorations in ecology - learning through chains of transduction. Environmental Education Research, 30(1), 83-100.

Nature-based education for facilitating resilience and well-being among youth—A Nordic perspective

Nature-based education can promote resilience and well-being among youth

Hofman-Bergholm, M., (2024). Nature-based education for facilitating resilience and well-being among youth—A Nordic perspective. Education Sciences, 14(43)

From program to classroom: a photo elicitation study to understand educators’ experiences implementing garden-based learning following professional development

Farm to School professional development builds educators’ confidence and professional networks

Evans, E., Green, G. T., Thompson, K. F., Abrams, J., Thompson, J. J., (2024). From program to classroom: a photo elicitation study to understand educators’ experiences implementing garden-based learning following professional development. Environmental Education Research

Methodological considerations for movement education interventions in natural environments for primary school children: A scoping review

Learning in nature is a feasible intervention for promoting positive learning outcomes for children

Petrigna, L., Thomas, E., Scardina, A., Rizzo, F., Brusa, J., Camarazza, G., Galassi, C., Palma, A., Bellafiore, M., (2022). Methodological considerations for movement education interventions in natural environments for primary school children: A scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19

Systematic review: Neurodevelopmental benefits of active/passive school exposure to green and/or blue spaces in children and adolescents

Nature in the school environment supports children’s and adolescents’ healthy neurodevelopment

Díaz-Martínez, F., Sánchez-Sauco, M. F., Cabrera-Rivera, L. T., Ojeda Sánchez , C., Hidalgo-Albadalejo, M. D., Claudio, L., Ortega-García, J. A., (2023). Systematic review: Neurodevelopmental benefits of active/passive school exposure to green and/or blue spaces in children and adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20

Teacher and parent perception of biophilic conditions in primary-school environments and their impact on children’s wellbeing

Teachers with numerous biophilic elements in their schools report favorable views of biophilic design’s impact on learning

Lanzaro, B., Ucci, M., (2024). Teacher and parent perception of biophilic conditions in primary-school environments and their impact on children’s wellbeing. Architecture, 4(2)

Empathy capacity-building through a community of practice approach: Exploring perceived impacts and implications

A community of practice approach can enhance educators’ capacity for developing young children’s empathy for nature

Ernst, J., Underwood, C., Wojciehowski, M., Nayquonabe, T., (2024). Empathy capacity-building through a community of practice approach: Exploring perceived impacts and implications. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Garden, 5, 395-415.

Nature play in early childhood education: A systematic review and meta ethnography of qualitative research

Young children engage in higher quality play in nature than in non-nature settings

Prins, J., van der Wilt, F., van der Veen, C., Hovinga, D., (2022). Nature play in early childhood education: A systematic review and meta ethnography of qualitative research. Frontiers in Psychology, 13

Is School Gardening Combined with Physical Activity Intervention Effective for Improving Childhood Obesity? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

School gardening activities + physical activity improves children’s fruit and vegetable intake but not their weight status

Qi, Y., Hamzah, S. H., Gu, E., Wang, H., Xi, Y., Sun, M., Rong, S., Lin, Q., (2021). Is School Gardening Combined with Physical Activity Intervention Effective for Improving Childhood Obesity? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients, 13(2605)

School gardening activities aimed at obesity prevention improve body mass index and waist circumference parameters in school-aged children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

School gardening projects have a modest positive impact on children’s nutrition and body measurements

Rochira, A., Tedesco, D., Ubiali, A., Fantini, M. P., Gori, D., (2020). School gardening activities aimed at obesity prevention improve body mass index and waist circumference parameters in school-aged children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Childhood Obesity, 16(3)

Bracing Biophilia: When biophilic design promotes pupil’s attentional performance, perceived restorativeness and affiliation with nature

A biophilic designed learning environment promotes attentional performance, perceived restorativeness, and affiliation with nature

Barbiero, G., Berto, R., Venturella, A., Maculan, N., (2021). Bracing Biophilia: When biophilic design promotes pupil’s attentional performance, perceived restorativeness and affiliation with nature. Environment, Development and Sustainability

The governance configurations of green schoolyards

Study provides key insights for “good governance” of green schoolyards

Sekulova, F., Mallen, I. R., (2024). The governance configurations of green schoolyards. Environmental Science and Policy, 156

Exploring children’s participation in the framework of early childhood environmental education

Environmental education can engage young children as equal partners through participatory approaches

Tsevreni, I., Tigka, A., Christidou, V., (2023). Exploring children’s participation in the framework of early childhood environmental education. Children's Geographies, 21(3), 394–409.

Navigating approaches to “thinking with”: A discussion of the practicalities of posthuman research involving young children

Forest school research highlights 3 post-humanist approaches to study child-nature relationships

Boileau, B. Y. S., (2024). Navigating approaches to “thinking with”: A discussion of the practicalities of posthuman research involving young children. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 40, 216–230.

Practitioner perspectives on nature-based learning for autistic children

Nature-based learning can promote the well-being of autistic children by affirming and supporting their way of learning

Friedman, S., Morrison, S. A., Shibata, A., (2024). Practitioner perspectives on nature-based learning for autistic children. The Journal of Environmental Education

Attending 12 weekly sessions of Forest School sessions improves mood and cooperation in 7–8- year-old children

Forest School participation is beneficial for children’s mood and cooperation.

Hepworth, A., Haddad, H., Edmonds, C. J., (2024). Attending 12 weekly sessions of Forest School sessions improves mood and cooperation in 7–8- year-old children. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning

Evaluating the effect of green, blue, and gray measures for climate change adaptation on children’s well-being in schoolyards in Barcelona

Combining green, blue, and grey solutions to address climate change impacts on school play areas yields positive student health and well-being outcomes

Sanz-Mas, M., Continente, X., Brugueras, S., Marí-Dell’Olmo, M., Oliveras, L., Lopez, M. J., (2025). Evaluating the effect of green, blue, and gray measures for climate change adaptation on children’s well-being in schoolyards in Barcelona. Landscape and Urban Planning, 253

Supporting young children’s self-regulation through nature-based practices in preschool

Nature-based practices may help children from disadvantaged backgrounds develop self-regulation and attention skills

Ernst, J., Stelley, H., (2024). Supporting young children’s self-regulation through nature-based practices in preschool. Behavioral Sciences, 14

Turning science lessons inside out: Professional development for elementary school teachers’ outdoor instruction

Elementary teachers need continued administrative support to take science out to the schoolyard

Fiocca, S., Carrier, S. J., McGowan, J., (2024). Turning science lessons inside out: Professional development for elementary school teachers’ outdoor instruction. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 16(4), 15-31 .

Effects of school‐led greenspace interventions on mental, physical and social wellbeing in children and adolescents: A systematic review

Engaging with nature in educational settings can improve students’ well-being for optimal learning experiences

Ly, V., Vella‐Brodrick,, D. A., (2024). Effects of school‐led greenspace interventions on mental, physical and social wellbeing in children and adolescents: A systematic review. Educational Psychology Review, 36(133)

Seeing the forest through the trees: at the intersection of Forest Kindergartens and art-based environmental education

Art-based environmental education can provide empowering opportunities for children to make their own ecological discoveries

Hunter-Doniger, T., (2021). Seeing the forest through the trees: at the intersection of Forest Kindergartens and art-based environmental education. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 21(3), 217-229.

Children’s artistic expressions inspired by nature during early childhood garden pedagogy

An arts-based garden pedagogy supports children’s creativity and environmental education

Ruokonen, I., Lepisto, J., (2024). Children’s artistic expressions inspired by nature during early childhood garden pedagogy. International Journal of Education Through Art, 20(2), 167-182.

Preschool educators’ opinions and practices on school gardening

Teachers say successful preschool gardens require additional space, time, financial support, and collaboration

Deniz, U. H., Kalburan, N. C., (2024). Preschool educators’ opinions and practices on school gardening. Urban Education, 59(9 )

“We never even touched plants this way”: school gardens as an embodied context for motivating environmental actions

Sensory and embodied interactions with plants may help children learn, act, care, and live in ways that encourage ecological flourishing

Dutta, D., Chandrasekharan, S., (2025). “We never even touched plants this way”: school gardens as an embodied context for motivating environmental actions. Environmental Education Research, 31(2), 284-303.