Let’s break the silence around mental illness and support mental health in ourselves, our families, our communities and everywhere.
Mental health affects how we think, feel and act as we cope with life. It’s important for everyone, including kids. Being outside, getting fresh air and exercise, and interacting with animals are all great ways to improve our mental (and physical!) health. When it comes to school, there are many proven benefits to learning outdoors. We’ve talked before about the benefits to school performance, but it’s important to understand that taking learning outside also reduces stress in young learners. In addition, some studies have shown that animal interaction can boost mental health by up to 97%.
“Living close to nature is wonderful for your mental health” -Ishmael
NHCS believes in fostering the growth and learning of the whole child, including their mental wellbeing and how they perceive themselves. Our teachers bring learning outside using various outdoor learning spaces. Time spent outdoors in green spaces significantly reduces cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and boosts endorphins levels and dopamine production, which promotes happiness. A simple stroll outside - to walk the dog, or feed the chickens, or just to take a few deep breaths - can make a big difference when you need a boost!
Our classes incorporate hands-on animal activities to not only give real-world examples of learning outcomes, but to allow students to interact with animals in informative, responsible and joyful ways. Animals also boost children’s self-esteem, and increase their engagement with related subjects. Spend a few minutes with our sassy critters and you can’t help but smile!
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