為何我們的兒童需要去戶外並與大自然融為一體

六年級導師 鄭菡雲節錄翻譯

The Guardian   的專文  : Why our children need to get outside and engage with nature

原文出處

 http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/16/childre-nature-outside-play-health

現今愈來愈多的孩子少有機會與大自然接觸相處. 這對他們的健康與發展造成極大的衝擊.

自由且未經規劃組織(free and unstructured play)的戶外遊戲可以增進解決問題的技巧，提高專注力與自我約束力。

在社交技巧方面，它可以提升合作、彈性與自我覺知的能力。

對情緒方面的好處，則包括了降低侵略性，增進快樂感。

美國醫藥協會於2005年發表了一篇頗具權威性的研究指出：「可以定期在戶外自由且未經規劃組織的遊戲玩耍的孩子會較為聰明、健康、快樂，也較能與他人和睦相處。」

Moss( Stephen Moss, 博物學者, 廣播員 和 作家) 說：「大自然是個工具，不只能讓孩子體驗廣闊的世界，也能讓他們體驗自己。所以，從攀爬樹木的過程中來學習如何對自己負責，更重要的是學習如何為你自己拿捏冒險的分寸。從樹上摔落能讓孩子好好地上一堂冒險與收穫的課。」

Free and unstructured play in the outdoors boosts problem-solving skills, focus and self-discipline. Socially, it improves cooperation, flexibility, and self-awareness. Emotional benefits include reduced aggression and increased happiness. "Children will be smarter, better able to get along with others, healthier and happier when they have regular opportunities for free and unstructured play in the out-of-doors," concluded one authoritative study published by the American Medical Association in 2005.

"Nature is a tool," says Moss, "to get children to experience not just the wider world, but themselves." So climbing a tree, he says, is about "learning how to take responsibility for yourself, and how – crucially – to measure risk for yourself. Falling out of a tree is a very good lesson in risk and reward."