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RESEARCH SHOWS KIDS NEED TO BE WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

The State of Environment Education: Florida Environment Radio

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Impact of Play in Nature

If you played in nature as a child, you're more likely to be involved in environment issues, more attuned to environment education and more likely to work in a environmental field. Those are just some of the findings from new research that shows what outdoor play in natural areas--or the lack of it--might lead to later in life.

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Linking Play and Learning

Newly published research shows a link between children playing in natural areas, and appreciation for and understanding of nature. While that may seem a logical connection, researcher Myron Floyd says it still required research into what his team called "Environmental Socialization"...

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Self-directed environment education

When children play in natural areas, they learn something about both nature and themselves. That, says newly published research, provides an element of environment education that can only come from unstructured play. Researcher Myron Floyd says a special kind of learning comes from nature's surprises...

Researchers who have recently linked childhood play in nature with a host of important, later-in-life skills, say their work should have a number of social impacts. The University of Florida's Myron Floyd is a co-author of the study and says it points out some specific needs...

While Florida is a leader in environment education in schools, a new study indicates another type of learning about nature might be equally important: what children learn from playing in natural areas. In addition to learning specifics about plants and animals, unstructured play helps them learn about themselves...