Direct sunlight, tree shadows, real soil and grass, wooden play equipment — at Marino Early Learners, your children can enjoy the fantastic nature play environment.
Nature contact and children’s health is a relatively new field of research, however evidence to date indicates that a variety of mechanisms exist which enable natural environments to enhance children health, learning and behaviour. For instance, nature enhances sense of peace and restores attentional stress (stress from constant attention), increases social cohesion and support, increases learning opportunities, provides diverse learning environments, provides exposure to important micro-organisms, increases physical activity and has improved air quality. With a playground of 1000 square metres in the centre, we are proud to offer children under our care a nature play environment.
Evidence shows nature enhances children’s learning and development – programs increasing nature contact have identified beneficial effects on children’s personality development, cognitive functioning, attitude and school behaviour.
Playing in a natural environment assists with building children’s motor skills – better motor performance has been identified in kindergarten children who had access to a more natural play environment when compared to children with access to a more urban play setting.
Nature is associated with good mental health – contact with nature, especially during middle childhood, has been indicated as having an important role to play in children’s mental health.
Recourse: Martin K (2011), Putting Nature back into Nurture:
The Benefits of Nature for Children. The University of Western Australia.