Reading Recommendations

Natural environments offer incredible opportunities for supporting language and communication growth in young children. These are some of my favourite articles that highlight how outdoor spaces create rich contexts for child development.



Explore the benefits of outdoor play for children with autism in The New York Times article by Perri Klass, M.D. (July 15, 2021). Learn how nature-based activities can enhance communication, sensory regulation, and overall well-being


Explore how natural outdoor spaces provide dynamic contexts for children’s play, fostering language development, creativity, and intellectual growth. In her article, Jan Beatson (He Kupu, October 2019) emphasises the interconnectedness of play, language, and the environment, advocating for outdoor experiences as vital for learning and development.


The study "Responding to Nature: Natural Environments Improve Parent-Child Communication," published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology (Volume 59, October 2018, Pages 9-15), explores the impact of natural environments on parent-child communication. Authors Thea Cameron-Faulkner, Joanna Melville, and Merideth Gattis found that communication between parents and their 3- to 4-year-old children was more responsive and connected in natural settings compared to indoor environments. This study is the first to demonstrate that natural environments can positively influence human communication, suggesting that nature may be an optimal setting for fostering better interactions.


The study "Language Use in Indoor and Outdoor Settings Among Children in a Nature-Based Preschool" by Ekaterina Novikova, Annette Pic, and Myae Han, published in Taylor & Francis Online in August 2023, explores the impact of nature-based outdoor settings on children's language use. By comparing language samples from 16 preschool children, including seven Dual Language Learners, the study found that children exhibited greater syntactic complexity in their language when interacting in outdoor nature settings compared to indoor classrooms. This research highlights the positive influence of natural environments on language development, suggesting that outdoor settings can enhance language skills, especially for young children and Dual Language Learners.

This paper by Julianne G. R. Houghton examines three studies on outdoor experiential learning in England, focusing on children aged 2–11. It highlights the decline in outdoor learning opportunities and the challenges faced by practitioners in balancing national guidelines with personal beliefs. The author argues for the benefits of outdoor learning and calls for policy changes to ensure children continue to learn outside the classroom throughout primary school. (Houghton, 2019).
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This article explores how outdoor sensory activities benefit children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by improving their physical, mental, and social health. It highlights how nature-based experiences foster greater interest, motivation, and participation in developing skills, offering a more engaging environment than clinical settings. Research supports the positive impact of outdoor play on holistic child development and emphasizes the importance of integrating nature into therapeutic practices for ASD children (Dankiw et al., 2020; Gill, 2015; McQuay et al., 2020; McCormick, 2017; Figueroa, 2020).