Medical Community

ICAN encourages the medical community to understand the benefits of children spending time outside and to communicate the importance of this aspect of childhood development to their patients.

It has been well documented that there are intellectual, physical, emotional, social benefits from time spent in nature. This document from the Children and Nature Network (C&NN) is an annotated bibliography of Research and Studies of health benefits for children from contact from the outdoors and nature.

The National Environmental Education Foundation has a fact sheet on the health benefits of the natural environment.   The medical community can provide a “prescription for outdoor play.” This prescription educates parents that children need free time outside in nature during their developing years.

Quick Steps to Start

For Parents:

• Talk to your pediatrician about the benefits of outdoor play
• Encourage your child to spend at least one hour daily in active outdoor play
• Limit the time your child spends on electronic media
• Get outside with your family to hike, bike, canoe, horseback ride, etc.

For the Medical Community:

• Let patients know that spending time outside has benefits for children and adults
• Write prescriptions for outdoor play
• Display ICAN posters in your lobby or exam rooms (download here or contact us to have one mailed)
• Talk with your colleagues or medical group about the health benefits of nature play for kids (see research & literature reviews here)

Time spent in the natural environment can:

• Reduce stress
• Mitigate attention disorders
• Help maintain a healthy weight
• Increase concentration & more!