“Nature is a playground of opportunity”: Examining perspectives of child nature connection with parents/guardians in the Southwest of England

Portus, Rosamund; Sadie, Barnes; Williams, Sara

Abstract

Concerns about child nature disconnect have been subject to increased interest in recent years, with attention being paid to the value of nature connection for children’s health, wellbeing, personal development, and environmental values. However, there remains a need to explore the barriers that hinder children’s opportunities to connect with nature, as well as to develop resources for nature connection which are responsive to ongoing cultural shifts and challenges. Drawing on the thematic analysis of interviews with parents/guardians of 7-9 year olds, this talk will offer timely insight into how parents/guardians make sense of and experience concerns linked to child nature disconnect. We will outline how this research shows that there are multiple, often intersecting barriers that parents/guardians experience when seeking to facilitate experiences which support children’s connection with nature. We will further examine how the findings of this research served as the foundational steps in the co-creation with parent/guardians of an educational nature toolkit which aims to support children’s nature connectedness. We will share how this toolkit was developed in collaboration with parents/guardians, as well as how it was evaluated through teacher-led discussions with children and surveys with parents/guardians. Through presenting the findings of this research with parents/guardians and our use of them to produce the toolkit, we will advocate the need to progress studies exploring how children growing up today might be meaningfully and appropriately supported to explore their connection with nature.

• Presentation Conference Type: Presentation / Talk
• Conference Name: Nature Connections
• Start Date: Jun 16, 2025
• End Date: Jun 17, 2025
• Acceptance Date: Apr 4, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jun 18, 2025
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/14578558