- Oxford Library of Psychology
- The Oxford Handbook of Environmental and Conservation Psychology
- Dedication
- Oxford Library of Psychology
- About the Editor
- Contributors
- Introduction: Environmental and Conservation Psychology
- Foundations of an Ecological Approach to Psychology
- Environmental Perception: Wayfinding and Spatial Cognition
- Environmental Attitudes
- Environmental Values
- Justice and the Allocation of Natural Resources: Current Concepts and Future Directions
- Children and Nature
- Emotions and Environment
- Place Attachment
- Environment and Identity
- Cultural Differences in Environmental Engagement
- Cities
- Residential Places and Neighborhoods: Toward Healthy Life, Social Integration, and Reputable Residence
- Work Environments
- School Environments
- Health Care Environments
- Correctional Environments
- Natural Landscapes
- Extreme and Unusual Environments: Challenges and Responses
- Noise
- Response to Environmental Disasters
- Environmental Injustice, Collaborative Action, and the Inclusionary Shift
- Therapeutic Uses of Nature
- Restorative Environments
- Healthy Physical Activity and Eating: Environmental Supports for Health
- Environmental Epiphanies: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Applications
- The Natural Environment in Residential Settings: Influences on Human Health and Function
- The Development of Conservation Behaviors in Childhood and Youth
- Promoting Pro-Environmental Behavior
- Protecting Natural Resources: Psychological and Contextual Determinants of Freshwater Conservation
- Collaborative Processes in Ecosystem Management
- Learning Our Way Out of Unsustainability: The Role of Environmental Education
- Psychology and Climate Change: Beliefs, Impacts, and Human Contributions
- Conclusions: Directions for the Future
- Index
Abstract and Keywords
This chapter summarizes current knowledge about children’s relationships to nature. While nature has always been part of childhood, concern about whether it will retain its traditional roles has risen apace with reduced exposure to it in the West. The chapter first examines Western cultural associations between children and nature, then presents contemporary psychological theories and methods used in this field. Key themes from research include that children are losing access to nature and inhabiting it less; that play in nature is varied and shows developmental patterns; that nature provides both powerful positive and negative emotional experiences; and that children are cognitively equipped to understand the living world. Technological simulations of nature may not provide all that real nature provides. This may include a wide range of physical and psychological benefits that are increasingly recognized.
Keywords: children, nature, use of environments, ecological knowledge, psychological benefits
Olin Eugene Myers Jr. Huxley College of the Environment Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
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- Oxford Library of Psychology
- The Oxford Handbook of Environmental and Conservation Psychology
- Dedication
- Oxford Library of Psychology
- About the Editor
- Contributors
- Introduction: Environmental and Conservation Psychology
- Foundations of an Ecological Approach to Psychology
- Environmental Perception: Wayfinding and Spatial Cognition
- Environmental Attitudes
- Environmental Values
- Justice and the Allocation of Natural Resources: Current Concepts and Future Directions
- Children and Nature
- Emotions and Environment
- Place Attachment
- Environment and Identity
- Cultural Differences in Environmental Engagement
- Cities
- Residential Places and Neighborhoods: Toward Healthy Life, Social Integration, and Reputable Residence
- Work Environments
- School Environments
- Health Care Environments
- Correctional Environments
- Natural Landscapes
- Extreme and Unusual Environments: Challenges and Responses
- Noise
- Response to Environmental Disasters
- Environmental Injustice, Collaborative Action, and the Inclusionary Shift
- Therapeutic Uses of Nature
- Restorative Environments
- Healthy Physical Activity and Eating: Environmental Supports for Health
- Environmental Epiphanies: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Applications
- The Natural Environment in Residential Settings: Influences on Human Health and Function
- The Development of Conservation Behaviors in Childhood and Youth
- Promoting Pro-Environmental Behavior
- Protecting Natural Resources: Psychological and Contextual Determinants of Freshwater Conservation
- Collaborative Processes in Ecosystem Management
- Learning Our Way Out of Unsustainability: The Role of Environmental Education
- Psychology and Climate Change: Beliefs, Impacts, and Human Contributions
- Conclusions: Directions for the Future
- Index
