Parents in Finland are being encouraged to spend more time in nature during pregnancy and early childhood years as a means of strengthening a child’s immune system and overall development.
The benefits of exposing children to nature from a young age are contained in a guidebook prepared by the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (XAMK) and set to be distributed to family health clinics nationwide.
The guidebook, titled ‘Raised by Nature’ and available in English, notes that the foundation for a healthy lifestyle is built during a child’s early years.
Spending time in nature during pregnancy may promote the wellbeing of the unborn baby, while a small child’s trips to a forest, for example, can help develop their immune system and motor skills as well as provide them with an excellent environment for learning, it says.
“When outdoor activities and spending time in nature become a habit in the family’s everyday life, its positive effects are enhanced and can support the wellbeing of the whole family in the long term,” the leaflet states.
The guide also provides practical tips on safely exploring natural environments when pregnant, with a baby and with a toddler.
For example, during a traditional forest trip, parents can allow the child to “explore natural materials with their hands” by giving them items such as bark, moss, sticks and cones.
Sanna Kuosmanen, a project manager at XAMK, told Yle that the ‘Raised by Nature’ project was started because of the growing body of research evidence into the health benefits for young children of natural environments.
“The guide was created in response to a need to increase families’ knowledge about the health benefits of nature and to encourage families with young children to spend time in nature,” Kuosmanen said.