I've been writing about the Montana Children and Nature Summit I attended this week. During a roundtable discussion, Nancy Wells from Cornell University spoke. (If the name sounds familiar I wrote about one of her studies in another post.)

A walk in the woods does a body (and mind) good.

One of the research projects she has been involved in shows nature serves as a buffer to stress for children.

The researchers, Wells and Gary Evans, used data collected from 337 rural children in grades 3-5. Based on a parent report and the children’s own sense of self-worth, they found,

Levels of nearby nature moderate the impact of stressful life events on the psychological well-being of children. Specifically, the impact of life stress was lower among children with high levels of nearby nature than among those with little nearby nature.

I know in my own life this is true. When I get too stressed out (which seems to be happening a lot, lately!) I can unwind and get back to myself by taking a walk in the woods or by the river. Sometimes it seems like it is going to be a total pain—first I have to get the toddler in the stroller, then strap my one-month-old into the Baby Bjorn, usually one or the other is crying, I can’t find some essential piece of gear, they both need their diapers changed etc—but if I can get through all that, it is worth it.

Between the movement and the scenery, the fresh air and the sounds of water or birds, I always feel better. And then I can be a better parent, at least for a little while.

Not everyone is lucky enough to have nature close by, but most of us can find something. Even tending plants on a balcony is soothing. And most people have a park or schoolyard near by. It may not be wilderness, but at least it is outside.

(Thanks to Sue for taking notes on this talk as I soothed my baby by taking him outside.)