The National Trust has released the results of its ‘Natural Childhood Inquiry’ this week and what it feels are needed to respond to make sure the next generation get involved with nature. The Inquiry asked both parents and experts on both the problems and solutions to this question.

 

Families basically need more support to make sure that the great outdoors more a part of normal everyday life. The natural spaces needed to more accessible and the approach in advertising the use needed to be more family orientated.

 

At the same time it was suggested that children need to make more of everyday opportunities to simply play outdoors and connect to the nature that is around them, and that family members should pass on their knowledge gleamed from their own childhoods, and to assist with taking the children out on family trips.

 

The Inquiry illustrated some of the barriers people feel they face in getting children and families outside. Top of the list was excessive health and safety rules and regulations, closely followed by the influence of home entertainment (computers, TV etc) that plays such a big part in all our lives now, others included traffic dangers, work influences, and the basic accessibility of green spaces in a lot of communities.

 

This was backed up by an additional survey undertaken by YouGov, where “stranger danger” topped the list topped the list of parental concerns, followed by accessibility and traffic worries.

 

When asked what would improve getting kids outdoors nearly half of those asked said that safe local areas would be the most important consideration. ”Supervised play areas” and organised activities involving schools and youth groups made up the top three suggestions.

 

Children, when asked, reinforced ideas picked up by their parents, such as ‘climbing trees can be dangerous’, ‘don’t go out in the rain, you might slip or catch a cold’. Whilst it is natural for a parent to want to protect their offspring, the Inquiry suggested that a more balanced approach need to be taken, looking at the benefits the outdoors has to offer rather than just the risks.

 

So we survived playing outsides, making dens, climbing trees, and whilst there were a few scraped knees, tears, ripped trousers and shoes lost in mud, we are here to tell the tale and are better people for it. Therefore its now time to pass on that enjoyment to the next generation and work with everyone to see it’s done in the right way. Grab your hat and coat, maybe treat the kids to a boys fleece, or girls jacket and see what the great outdoors has to offer so they have tales to pass on to their kids one day.