Attending a nature nursery is associated with higher nature connection

Two hypotheses framed this study: (1) Children who attend nature nursery will have a greater nature connection score than those who attend traditional nurseries; (2) Nature connection will differ with time in attendance at nature nursery. “Nature nursery” as defined in this study refers “to settings that have a continuous outdoor provision, with no permanent indoor access.”

Data for this study was based on 216 children (age 1-8). Of these, 132 attended nature nurseries and the rest traditional nurseries. Parents of the children completed the Connection to Nature Index for Parents of Preschool Children, which includes four dimensions of nature connection: enjoyment of nature, empathy for nature, responsibility toward nature, and awareness of nature. Parents also completed a survey (Inclusion of Nature in Self) assessing their own nature connection and provided information about their child's gender and frequency of nursery attendance.

Results showed a difference between the nature connection of young children who attend nature nurseries when compared to those who attend traditional nurseries. In all four nature connection dimensions, children who attended nature nurseries scored higher than children attending traditional nurseries. In two of the four dimensions -- enjoyment of nature and awareness of nature – the difference between the two groups was significant. Females of both settings had higher scores than males in the two dimensions of empathy and responsibility towards nature, but not in overall nature connection scores. Generally, as children's connection to nature scores increased, so did their parents' nature connection scores. For overall nature connection, as well as for three of the four dimensions -- engagement, awareness, and responsibility -- parental connection to nature was a predictor of the child's connection to nature. This effect was smaller for children attending nature nurseries than for children attending traditional nurseries, possibly because more nature-connected parents may be more inclined to send their children to nature preschools. Results showed no correlation between age and child connection scores.

These findings support both hypotheses: (1) Attending a nature nursery is associated with higher nature connection; and (2) Nature connection differed with time in attendance at nature nursery. The findings also indicate that both parental nature connection and total time spent in attendance of a nature nursery predict children's connection to nature. Based on these findings, the researchers conclude that one possible pathway to building a sustainable and positive relationship with nature starting in early childhood is to incorporate more nature-rich routines into traditional nursery settings.