Spending more time in nature growing up helps kids' mental development

Spending more time in nature at an early age appears to help the cognitive development and mental health of children. According to a new study published by Nature Sustainability, researchers at University College London and Imperial College London studied over 3,500 students between the ages of 9 and 15 over four years. The more exposure they had to woods and parks, the higher their cognitive development scores and the lower their emotional and behavioral health risks. Rivers, lakes and oceans had a positive effect as well, but not as dramatic an improvement. This summer, and for years going forward, make sure your child gets outside instead of spending it indoors on social media.