Nature Enhances Wellbeing

Summary of Brownlee, Walker, & Aulén (2024)

Background & Existing Knowledge
Time spent in nature is known to support mental and physical health, but less is known about its school-based effects on student wellbeing and emotional regulation.

New Insights from This Study
✔ In schools incorporating weekly outside breaks, students showed lower stress levels and improved focus.
✔ Teachers linked time outside with reductions in disruptive behavior and higher classroom calm.
✔ Self-reported mood and peer cooperation improved significantly following structured outdoor sessions.

Practical Applications
Behavior Management
📌 Schedule short outdoor breaks to reset attention and mood.

Teacher Support

📌 Provide training on nature-based stress-reduction strategies.
Inclusive Teaching
📌 Offer choice-driven outdoor mindfulness or movement tasks.

Conclusion
Structured time outdoors supports student well-being, improves classroom climate, and bolsters social-emotional development.

Key Words
student wellbeing, outdoor breaks, emotional regulation, stress reduction, school climate

Reference
Brownlee, M., Walker, G. J., & Aulén, J. (2024). Reconsidering nature’s role in student wellbeing. Environmental Education Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2024.2331023

Suggested Citation
Ross, E. M., & Malar, D. B. J. (2025). Nature Enhances Wellbeing. Excellent Educator, 2(14), 5.