Spending time outdoors has so many benefits for our mind, body and soul. Highly sensitive children don’t just enjoy spending time in nature, they need it! Getting outside and exploring their environment is, no pun intended, a breath of fresh air for HSCs! Here are 5 reasons why spending time in nature is essential for highly sensitive children.

Highly Sensitive Child in nature

1. Nature has a calming and restoring effect.

Getting outdoors provides a peaceful escape from the sensory overstimulation that can occur inside the confines of four walls. Spending time in nature, where they can move freely in their own space, can help a highly sensitive child clear their mind and reset.

2. It appeals to the senses in a non-overwhelming way.

Highly sensitive people tend to feel things more deeply. This is a positive when it comes to experiencing the beauty that nature has to offer. Highly sensitive children are in tune with the enjoyable sensory experiences that nature provides. They pick up on the soft sounds of birds chirping, a running stream, and insects buzzing. They can appreciate the colors of the flowering buds, trees, and sunsets in the sky and smells like those of flowers or a fireplace burning in the distance.

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3. Stress reduction

Leaving behind the distractions of technology and getting outdoors allows children to be present. Kids are usually much more physically active outside as well, which increases the production of endorphins, or “feel good” neurotransmitters, that can boost their mood and energize them.

4. It fosters imagination and feeds creativity

There are endless ways to play outside. Digging, climbing, running, jumping, walking, biking, exploring, building, and the list goes on and on. With less technology and toys available in an outdoor setting, children are able to create activities, make up games, and become explorers. This type of play lets their activities be fueled by their imagination.

5. Nature builds confidence

The outdoors is an invitation to explore and engage in unstructured play. There are so many things to appeal to a child’s curiosity and abundant opportunities to have an adventure. How far can I throw this rock in the river? Can I make it to the top of this hill? What does a frog feel like? Are slugs slimy? How fast can I run to the end of the block? What will happen if I ride my bike through a puddle? How high can I climb this tree? Engaging with nature allows children to test things out, learn from their observations and build their self-esteem.