A "green" schoolyard helps students reduce stress.

According to a new study from the University of Colorado Boulder, schoolyards with natural spaces and plenty of trees, instead of plastic playgrounds, can reduce stress and distraction in children through play and recreation. Furthermore, children who are immersed in green spaces during recess experience more positive emotions.

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Scientists spent 1,200 hours observing and interviewing teachers and students at various levels to assess the importance of natural schoolyards in reducing stress among elementary school students. Furthermore, when children are exposed to natural environments with plenty of greenery, it promotes sensory development, fosters emotional intelligence, and improves their overall well-being.

According to a survey conducted over three years at Baltimore Elementary School, 96% of students in grades 1-4 chose the wood playground during recess, while other groups opted for areas with recreational activities. In the wood, younger children were free to explore and experience things on their own, while older children organized games such as building forts or playing business, or any other game they could think of. Baltimore Elementary School teachers confirmed that students who returned to class after wood recess had longer attention spans. Notably, some parents reported a significant increase in their children's affection for family members and their overall happiness levels.

Furthermore, researchers found that students at Denver Elementary School are a prime example of the conclusion that playing in natural playgrounds helps reduce stress in students. 25% of the students there stated that green areas always evoke a feeling of "peace" or "calmness," providing an escape when their minds are stressed in the classroom or at home. Specifically, natural playgrounds help children better manage their emotions. "In over 700 hours of observing students playing in the school's outdoor green spaces, we did not see any unruly behavior. However, the children did use reasoning to persuade their playmates to agree with them," affirmed Louise Chawla, the lead author of the study.

Furthermore, 46% of teenagers in Colorado believe that being in nature makes them feel calm and relaxed. They attribute these feelings to being outdoors in the fresh air, feeling connected to their natural environment, the sense of accomplishment from caring for living creatures, and having a quiet space for self-reflection. Another point that scientists haven't addressed is that exposure to nature enhances children's imagination and creativity, as they can sometimes invent countless simple games with just a few branches or a patch of grass.

Professor Chawla asserted that schools have a significant impact on students' lives, serving as crucial spaces to connect them with nature and reap numerous benefits. In particular, schoolyards create an ecological environment that fosters a connection with nature as a habit in their studies and future lives.

Rapid urbanization, which has taken away land and public spaces, has led to modern children suffering from various health problems such as obesity, nearsightedness, and autism. Their limited exposure to nature, confined living environments, and lack of sunlight have left them disadvantaged in many ways. However, overcoming the inevitable challenges of modern development is not easy. Parents can only strive to provide their children with as much time and space for outdoor play as possible. For a school where even seating is insufficient, the dream of an eco-friendly playground remains unattainable.

According to songmoi/be Boulder