But when a parent or carer feels calmer, young people feel it too. And one of the simplest ways to get there doesn’t involve an app, a course, or a meditation cushion.<\/p>\n
It just involves trees.<\/p>\n
What the Science Says<\/strong><\/h3>\nSpending unhurried time in natural settings \u2014 woodlands, parks, even a garden \u2014 has measurable effects on our mental and physical wellbeing; mood lifts, stress hormones drop and the nervous system, which in many of us is quietly running on high alert, begins to settle.<\/p>\n![\"family](\"https:\/\/teachchildrenmeditation.com\/files\/2023\/06\/james-wheeler-RRZM3cwS1DU-unsplash-200x300.jpg\")
\u00a9 James Wheeler – Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFor young people the benefits are particularly striking:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- improved attention spans<\/li>\n
- better emotional regulation<\/li>\n
- stronger resilience and coping skills<\/li>\n
- increased creativity and problem-solving<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dr Mary Carol Hunter at the University of Michigan <\/a>describes it this way:<\/p>\n\n“Nature is fuel for the soul. Often when we feel depleted, we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nEnvironmental psychologist Dr Rachel Kaplan agrees:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n“Nature provides the right environment for developing skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nA study<\/a> published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that spending time in nature significantly improved attention spans and increased creativity in children.<\/p>\nDeveloping Resilience and Coping Skills<\/strong> – spending time in outdoor settings allows children to encounter challenges, overcome obstacles, and develop a sense of self-efficacy. According to the American Psychological Association<\/a>, exposure to natural environments fosters emotional resilience and helps children cope with stress and adversity more effectively.<\/p>\nFor trauma-experienced children, The Children in Nature Network discovered that being in nature naturally reduces the hypervigilant state of their nervous system due to trauma<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\nA survey of child and family service providers named five key outcomes as focus areas for intervention: healing, permanency, family connection, safety and self regulation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
<\/div>\nMindfulness in Nature – getting started<\/h3>\n
You don’t need to do anything complicated. Here are five ways to bring a little awareness to time outdoors \u2014 for the whole family.<\/p>\n
1. Walking with the senses<\/strong><\/p>\nThe walking is not about your step count, but about noticing \u2014 feet on the ground, sounds, smells, the temperature of the air. You can gently point things out to children, or simply do it yourself to regulate your nervous system (which benefits those around you).<\/p>\n
2. A nature treasure hunt<\/strong><\/p>\nBefore you head out, write a simple list together \u2014 a feather, something smooth, something that makes a sound, a colour you don’t often notice. Then slow right down and look. This works well for children who find stillness difficult, because the seeking is<\/em> the mindfulness. Their nervous system settles without them realising it.<\/p>\n3. Stretching or yoga outside<\/strong><\/p>\nSimple, slow movement in the garden or a park feels different to doing the same thing inside. Feel the ground, notice the air, breathe. For smaller kids get them to imitate the shape of a tree or flower they see around them.<\/p>\n
4. Sitting beneath a tree<\/strong><\/p>\nFind a tree, sit near it, and notice it \u2014 the bark, the leaves, the way the light shifts through the branches. Children can lie underneath and look up through the canopy. You can guide them to notice that the tree breathes in what they breathe out, and gives them back their next breath.<\/p>\n
5. Journalling or drawing in nature<\/strong><\/p>\nA notebook and a quiet spot outdoors can open something up in children. Encouraging them to draw, write, or simply doodle what they notice.\u00a0 The intention is just to be somewhere calm, with space to process whatever needs to.<\/p>\n
<\/div><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Forest Bathing – a mindful practice<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe Japanese have long practised what they call shinrin yoku<\/em> \u2014 immersion in the forest atmosphere \u2014 and it’s now being widely studied as a therapeutic practice. But you don’t need a Japanese word for it or a special woodland to feel the effects. Even a few minutes of unhurried time in green space, done with a little awareness, can shift how both you and your child feel.\u00a0 \u00a0 If you need a little more information to explore the powerful effects of this practice, we recommend ‘*Into the Forest’ by Dr Qimg Li.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"How](\"https:\/\/teachchildrenmeditation.com\/files\/2026\/06\/forest-bathing-meditation-300x169.jpg\")
We’ve just recorded a guided meditation set in a forest<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 for teens and adults \u2014 and it goes live on the Connected Kids YouTube channel at 8pm BST this Sunday, the Summer Solstice. A good one to try in nature (or simply at home) to help feel more grounded.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nUseful Resources<\/h3>\n
If you\u2019d like support bringing practices like this into your family life or classroom, the\u00a0Connected Kids Method<\/a> walks you through everything step by step \u2014 including how to adapt mindful practices in nature for children with different needs.<\/em><\/p>\n
For young people the benefits are particularly striking:<\/strong><\/p>\n Dr Mary Carol Hunter at the University of Michigan <\/a>describes it this way:<\/p>\n “Nature is fuel for the soul. Often when we feel depleted, we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Environmental psychologist Dr Rachel Kaplan agrees:<\/strong><\/p>\n “Nature provides the right environment for developing skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n A study<\/a> published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that spending time in nature significantly improved attention spans and increased creativity in children.<\/p>\n Developing Resilience and Coping Skills<\/strong> – spending time in outdoor settings allows children to encounter challenges, overcome obstacles, and develop a sense of self-efficacy. According to the American Psychological Association<\/a>, exposure to natural environments fosters emotional resilience and helps children cope with stress and adversity more effectively.<\/p>\n For trauma-experienced children, The Children in Nature Network discovered that being in nature naturally reduces the hypervigilant state of their nervous system due to trauma<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n A survey of child and family service providers named five key outcomes as focus areas for intervention: healing, permanency, family connection, safety and self regulation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n You don’t need to do anything complicated. Here are five ways to bring a little awareness to time outdoors \u2014 for the whole family.<\/p>\n 1. Walking with the senses<\/strong><\/p>\n The walking is not about your step count, but about noticing \u2014 feet on the ground, sounds, smells, the temperature of the air. You can gently point things out to children, or simply do it yourself to regulate your nervous system (which benefits those around you).<\/p>\n 2. A nature treasure hunt<\/strong><\/p>\n Before you head out, write a simple list together \u2014 a feather, something smooth, something that makes a sound, a colour you don’t often notice. Then slow right down and look. This works well for children who find stillness difficult, because the seeking is<\/em> the mindfulness. Their nervous system settles without them realising it.<\/p>\n 3. Stretching or yoga outside<\/strong><\/p>\n Simple, slow movement in the garden or a park feels different to doing the same thing inside. Feel the ground, notice the air, breathe. For smaller kids get them to imitate the shape of a tree or flower they see around them.<\/p>\n 4. Sitting beneath a tree<\/strong><\/p>\n Find a tree, sit near it, and notice it \u2014 the bark, the leaves, the way the light shifts through the branches. Children can lie underneath and look up through the canopy. You can guide them to notice that the tree breathes in what they breathe out, and gives them back their next breath.<\/p>\n 5. Journalling or drawing in nature<\/strong><\/p>\n A notebook and a quiet spot outdoors can open something up in children. Encouraging them to draw, write, or simply doodle what they notice.\u00a0 The intention is just to be somewhere calm, with space to process whatever needs to.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Japanese have long practised what they call shinrin yoku<\/em> \u2014 immersion in the forest atmosphere \u2014 and it’s now being widely studied as a therapeutic practice. But you don’t need a Japanese word for it or a special woodland to feel the effects. Even a few minutes of unhurried time in green space, done with a little awareness, can shift how both you and your child feel.\u00a0 \u00a0 If you need a little more information to explore the powerful effects of this practice, we recommend ‘*Into the Forest’ by Dr Qimg Li.<\/a><\/p>\n If you\u2019d like support bringing practices like this into your family life or classroom, the\u00a0Connected Kids Method<\/a> walks you through everything step by step \u2014 including how to adapt mindful practices in nature for children with different needs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
Mindfulness in Nature – getting started<\/h3>\n
Forest Bathing – a mindful practice<\/strong><\/h3>\n
We’ve just recorded a guided meditation set in a forest<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 for teens and adults \u2014 and it goes live on the Connected Kids YouTube channel at 8pm BST this Sunday, the Summer Solstice. A good one to try in nature (or simply at home) to help feel more grounded.<\/em><\/p>\nUseful Resources<\/h3>\n