Kids need to be outside<\/p>\n
Many studies<\/a> have shown that exposure to natural environments<\/a> can benefit children<\/a>, including their academic, social and emotional development.<\/p>\n A 2019 study by the National Institutes of Health warns that some parents discourage playing in nature for safety concerns<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis disconnection from nature is having important consequences for children\u2019s overall well-being and development directly impacting cognitive development, independence, and creativity,\u201d the study reads.<\/p>\n The Bristol School District is particularly concerned about children whose schooling began during the COVID pandemic shutdowns, when much of their time was spent interacting with electronic screens.<\/p>\n \u201cJust having them outside away from screens gives them a different opportunity to communicate to their peers,\u201d said Amy Coleman, the district\u2019s chief academic officer and director of curriculum.<\/p>\n \u201cGet back to learning how to have conversations, to listen, to question, to be exposed to things that otherwise they may not be exposed to,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n In Philadelphia, a similar concern over pandemic-era elementary students spurred a trio of pediatricians from the Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia to launch Prescribe Outside<\/a>, a partnership that connects Philadelphia children to outdoor programs in natural areas.<\/p>\n The cohort includes CHOP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Sierra Club, Temple University Center for Sustainable Communities and Let\u2019s Go Outside, an organization making outdoor spaces more accessible to Philadelphians, particularly underserved and people of color.<\/p>\n \u201cIn recent years children have been spending more time indoors and on devices, which has negatively impacted their health,\u201d said Dr. Barbara Rolnick, one of the founders of Prescribe Outside, in an online video<\/a>. \u201cWe see patients every day with behavioral and physical health concerns, which could be improved by spending time outside in nature.\u201d<\/p>\n