Have I mentioned that Berlin is the "greenest" city in the world? By this I mean it has more trees and foliage per capita than any other city. There is even a law that each citizen has a right to a tree within a few meters of their home. The aptly named Grunewald ("Green Forest") is one of the best spots in Berlin. It is a protected forest within city limits complete with ponds, lakes, a sand pit and wild pigs. When my children need a break from city life, the Grunewald is just a 30 minute train ride away.
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| In the S-Bahn station Grunewald |
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| Daddy and son beginning our trek. We've had an Indian Summer, so everything still looks very green. |
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| Children and sticks - an essential combo! |
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| Making friends with a beetle. |
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| Daddy! |
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| New finds for our nature table. |
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| The first signs of fall. |
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| Other-worldy looking mushrooms . . . |
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| . . .perfect for a dolly world. |
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| Game: who can hit the tree with the pine cones? |
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| There's nothing like sinking your feet in a muddy pond and searching for frogs. |
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| Caught one! |
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| The Kiesgrube (Sandpit) is one of the most fun spots in the forest. |
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| And light saber battles are also way more fun outdoors! |
I always notice an immediate change in my kids when we visit the forest or some natural setting. They are more relaxed and their concentration levels increase.
Just a reminder of some of the benefits when children spend time in nature:
- Calming effect that also helps with behavioral problems
- Enhances cognitive abilities
- Children are more physically active and less prone to weight issues
- Nurtures self-discipline.
- Nurtures healthy curiosity and problem solving
- Sounder sleep patterns
(For more articles on how nature positively effects children, see the links in this post.)
I wish you a great start in the week!
Good for you! The study that really struck me was this one, showing that even adults are *nicer* after they've been looking at nature: http://www.rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=3450
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