Blue Skies Project

Policy Brief
Ann Ward ECE 513 Advocating for Young Children and Families West Chester University March 17, 2013

Blue Skies Project

Transforming childrens experience in the natural world through play.

Blue Skies Project Mission:

Increase free and unstructured play in nature. Promote safety and accessibility of natural areas. Respond to physical and mental health
crisis in childhood. Advance environmental literacy through innovation. Develop and expand model programs. Create possibilities for outdoor learning and outdoor classrooms.
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Blue Skies Project

Transforming childrens experience in the natural world through play.

"Many of us still remember a time when playing in nature was considered normal and expected. We cannot leave this earth and take that memory with us. We must pass it to the next generation." Richard Louv, Author, Last Child In the Woods (2006)

Introduction Access to the natural world through is tragically disappearing from our childrens lives. The beloved mud pies, wild berry potions, and firefly lanterns of the early seventies, the hallmarks of the exploration and discovery and unstructured play in the natural world that defined childhood itself less than thirty years ago, are fading memories. The landscape of early childhood is being surly transformed by a broad spectrum media-driven influences and burgeoning affordable technologies, by parental fears and insecurities, demands on childrens free time, and declining availability and access of green space.[1][2] In 20 years the amount of time children spend outdoors fell by 50% while the number of hours a child spends plugged in to electronics has increased to more than six hours on average per day.[3] The impact of nature deficit in childhood is profoundly concerning.

While time in nature continues to decline, childhood obesity rates are rising at alarming rates. In the United States, 16% of children 6-9 are considered overweight or obese. In preschool-aged children and teens obesity rates have doubled over thirty years while rates for 6-11 year olds have tripled. Drastic increases can be seen in chronic diseases associated with obesity in childhood including Type-2 Diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease). Attention-deficit disorder, a chronic disorder often diagnosed during childhood, affects 4.3% of our nations 4-17 year olds. Due to the increase in the number of children diagnosed with ADHD, the Center for Disease and Prevention now refers to ADD/ADHD as a serious public health concern [4], a chronic condition that impairs focus and attention (academic achievement), social relationships (affiliation) and emotional well being (affect) [5]. However grim the reality of these statistics, reconnecting children to the natural word is powerful when considering therapeutic benefits, prevention, and overall healthy child development. Lifestyle-related physical activity (free,unstructured outdoor play as different from aerobics or calisthenics), is essential to combatting child obesity and sustained weight loss in children. Time in nature lowers blood pressure, reduces pain, aids in recovery from injuries, reduces stress, and decreases level of chronic stress [4]. Nature provides a attention-restorative environment that mitigates the effects of ADD/ADHD and directedattention fatigue (impulsivity, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and irritation) [1][6][7]. Outcomes in research on concentration and impulse control, emotional coping and stress reduction, creative play, reduced symptoms of ADD/ADHD, motor coordination, and emergence of stewardship reflect the positive impact of natural views, access to natural play yards and landscapes, availability of safe outdoor play yards, exposure to nature, and first-hand experience in the natural world [8]. A variety of grassroots efforts and policy initiatives have emerged since the passing of H.R.2054, the No Child Left Inside Act of 2009. The focus of these efforts across our nation is to reconnect children to the natural world and mitigate the impact of nature defict. As the National Wildlife Federation calls for a comprehensive response campaign that mobilizes for policy, advocates assert the need for a coordinated effort of state health, education, parks and recreation, and city planning efforts. A coordinated effort across

multiple disciplines must include policy actions. Policy actions that can affect change may include governors proclamations on a childs bill of rights, changes in public health policy (including early learning standards for child care programs), and funding for state parks and wildlife organizations to enhance nature-children connections through family programs. Furthermore, policy actions could make grants available for the construction of trails, greenbelts, and naturalized playscapes and force change in the requirements for environmental literacy and environmental education, outdoor classrooms, and certificate programs. Urban planning for green landscaping ordinances, pedestrian accommodations, grants for developing safe routes to school, and incentives for property developments that are LEED certified must be included in policy actions taken at this time.[3]

Summary and Recommendations For the sake of our childrens health and well-being it is imperative that we take action on behalf of our youngest children whose childhood, adolescence, and adult lives are endangered by nature deficit. Take steps now to reconnect children to the natural world.

As early childhood educators we will:

Advocate for environmental education and environmental literacy programs Develop sources of funding and grants for grassroots projects connecting children and nature Advocate for outdoor learning experiences in school Promote childrens connection to nature through public health systems and positive lifestyle choices Develop community-based opportunities for outdoor recreation in safe zones in every neighborhood

 Engage parents in outdoor experiences that promote unstructured play and connections to the natural world such as those offered by The National Wildlife Federation and The Children & Nature Network Support outdoor time for every child in school Promote the development of naturalized play areas in communities Join an outdoor play movement Petition state government to enact public policy reforms to connecting children to nature through state health, natural resources and eduction Take action to forward federal governments role in policies that connect children and nature.2 Conclusion Playing under blue skies where children can be free to develop authentic and meaningful connections to the natural world is a right of all children. As advocates for a childs connection to nature, it is imperative that we continue to foster awareness of a childs need for a relationship with the natural world. We must work to ensure that every child has opportunities to explore, investigate, wonder, and seek joy through play. Blue Skies Project is committed to transforming childrens experience of the natural world through play. Visit us on Facebook for the latest on policy and legislation, research links, learning in outdoor classrooms, nature play environments, citizen science projects, gardening and cooking, and curricular considerations.

Endnotes [1] Louv, R. (2008). Last child in the woods. (2nd ed., Rev.). Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. [2] White, H. (2008, May). Connecting today's kids with nature; A policy action plan. Reston, Virginia: National Wildlife Federation. [3] Cooper, A. (2009, March). Children and the outdoors state policy solutions guide. Retrieved March 15, 2013, from National Wildlife Federation website: http:// www.nwf.org/~/media/PDFs/Be%20Out%20There/ State_Policy_Solutions_Guide_FINAL.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20130317T2128164833 [4] National Environmental Education Foundation (2013, March). Improved health from the natural environment; Where's the evidence? Retrieved March 15, 2013, from http:// www.neefusa.org/health/index.html [5] Burdette, H. L., & Whitaker, R. C. (2005). Resurrecting free play in young children. Looking beyond fitness and fatness to attention, affiliation, and affect. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 159, 46-50. [6]Kuo, F., & Taylor, A. (2004). A potential natural treatment for attention-

deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Evidence from a national study. American Journal of Public Health, 94(9), 1580-1586. [7] Taylor, A., Kuo, F., & Sullivan, W. (2001). Coping with ADD:The surprising connection to green play settings. Environment and Behavior, 33(1), 54-77. [8] Chawla, L., & Cushingo, D. F. (2007, April). Benefits of Nature for Children's Health. Retrieved March 15, 2013, from Children, YOuth and Environments Center for Research and Design website: www.cudenver.edu/cye