A jungle walk can elevate child’s mood

If a child often feels stressed and depressed, a walk in the jungle is likely to improve mood, researchers said.

The study, led by a team from the University of Hong Kong, revealed that children who developed a closer connection with nature had less distress, less hyperactivity and had a healthy lifestyle with regard to active play and eating habits.

They also had less behavioural and emotional difficulties and an improved social behaviour.

The researchers mentioned in their paper published in the journal PLOS ONE that despite the extensive, adjacent greenness, only few families are using these areas, leading to increased number of children being seen as stressed and/or depressed.

‘We noticed a tendency where parents are avoiding nature. They perceive it as dirty and dangerous, and their children unfortunately pick up these attitudes,’ said Tanja Sobko from the University’s School of Biological Sciences.

If you find your child stressed or depressed taking him in the middle of nature may immensely help!