Transform Behavior by Transforming Your Outdoor Space

This past challenging year has made it clear how much children (and adults) benefit from the healing power of nature. In one of the most popular Exchange Reflections, “Transforming Outdoor Environments, Transforming Behavior,” an article by Julie Bookwalter and Veronika Vicqueneau provides food for thought on how natural outdoor classrooms can transform the way we think about and respond to children’s behavior. They encourage educators to consider how strategic changes in outdoor spaces could help immensely in decreasing challenges. In the article, the authors quote Claire Warden, a well-known pioneer in the children and nature movement as saying: “Children tell us what they need and want, we have to train ourselves to listen and take note.”

And in a popular Exchange Essentials article collection, “Taking Play Outdoors,” Jim Wike writes this in one of the articles:

“As a landscape architect, I obviously believe that the way outdoor spaces are designed matters; but recently I’ve become more of a believer than ever that well-designed outdoor spaces can help young children grow and learn in positive ways.”

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