Reconnecting children with nature – a One Health perspective

Hi Fredrika,

Could you briefly describe your research – its main objectives and what you hope to achieve?

My research focuses on how green environments support children’s play, learning and health.

Early in my career, I demonstrated how access to nature influences children’s physical activity and social interaction, showing that natural environments can support more inclusive and dynamic forms of play. This led to the idea of a health-promoting type of play characterised by flux and transformation.

Since then, my work has expanded through multidisciplinary collaborations with researchers in public health, sport sciences and education. Together, we have explored how outdoor environments contribute to multiple aspects of children’s health and development. A large body of research from around the world has since confirmed these findings, along with many other benefits of nature-based play for children’s health and development.

A key part of my work has been to develop tools such as the Outdoor Play Environment Categories (OPEC), which help assess how preschool environments can support health.

In more recent projects, I examine how changes in urban planning and preschool design affect children’s access to nature. For example, larger preschool units and more standardised outdoor spaces may limit children’s opportunities to engage with biodiverse environments.

How does your research relate to the One Health concept?

My research highlights the close connections between environmental quality, human health and social development – central elements of the One Health perspective.

I emphasise that access to biodiverse and stimulating natural environments is not only important for children’s well-being, but also for fostering long-term relationships with nature.

The fact that many children still have access to green play environments in their daily lives can be seen as a significant preventive health measure.

I also see that children’s engagement with nature depends on the quality and diversity of the environment.

What are the main challenges in this field – and where do you see the biggest opportunities?

One key challenge is the ongoing transformation of outdoor environments for children, where natural elements are often replaced by simplified and standardised spaces. This can limit both play opportunities and children’s interaction with nature.

I also see that younger children, who depend more on adult guidance, may be less likely to explore more complex natural areas if these are not easily accessible.

At the same time, there are significant opportunities. One approach is to actively design and manage outdoor environments to support both play and biodiversity – an idea captured in the concept of “play biotopes.” Children are prepared to stay in tune with nature and can develop both the skills and the care needed to interact with other species.

In my current and upcoming projects, I take a closer look at how biodiverse environments support children’s social development, learning and resilience. This includes studies on rewilding urban courtyards – initiatives that not only promote social interaction, but also contribute to climate adaptation, for example by reducing heat and managing water flows.

Across all these projects, there is a sense of urgency – to better understand the links between land use and human health, and to bring this knowledge into the education of future professionals.

More information

• Research projects:
  – Sustainable encounters in large preschool playgrounds
  – [Project 2 – project catalogue]
• Publications (full list)
• Project handbook: Sustainable outdoor stay in large preschools (in Swedish)
  The handbook presents participating preschools and includes summaries of research findings, along with practical guidance on documenting outdoor activities and play as part of developing environments and practices.
• Outdoor Environments for Health and Wellbeing – Master’s programme