The Voice of Early Childhood28 Heinä 2025

A nature-deficit childhood

Children today are spending significantly less time outdoors than just a generation ago and this raises the question for parents and educators to consider, what are the implications of a childhood disconnected from nature? In this article and podcast episode Julia Packwood, early years outdoor specialist, highlights current research and explores how simply spending time outdoors can build the foundations for a healthier and happier childhood.

Read the article here:

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/a-nature-deficit-childhood/

This episode is sponsored by Funding Loop

Funding Loop automates the process for nurseries of collecting funding forms from parents and typing that information into council portals. Funding Loop is used by over 2000 nurseries including over 80% of the top 25 nursery chains in the UK including Busy Bees.

To find out more visit: https://www.fundingloop.co.uk/home

Listen to more:

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:

· The therapeutic nature of outdoor play by Jenny Smillie – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/the-therapeutic-nature-of-outdoor-play/

· The science behind outdoor play series by Dr Gemma Goldenberg – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/author/gemma-goldenberg/

Our 2026 conference info & tickets:

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2026/

Get in touch and share your voice:

Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/

Episode break down:

00:00 – Welcome!
03:45 – What is nature-deficit disorder?
07:00 – Noticeable benefits of being outdoors
09:20 – Reclaiming childhood
12:30 – Risk-benefit analysis
13:45 – What does childhood look like now?
16:55 – Less screen time, more green time
28:15 – Barefoot benefits & grounding
30:20 – Safety sweeps
34:00 – Air quality
37:20 – Conservation
43:50 – Calls to action to government and communities
50:00 – It starts with us reflecting inwards
52:00 – Further reading

For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(175)

From practice to progress: Do children need to be taught movement skills?

This article and podcast episode explore how young children develop Fundamental Movement Skills through repeated, varied experiences and attuned adult guidance. Dr Leanne Jaye highlights the balance b...

19 Loka 53min

More than a father: Emotional presence in early childhood practice

Children need more than provision; they need emotionally present adults who help them feel safe, understood and valued. Drawing on his work with children with complex and neurodivergent needs, his jou...

12 Loka 1h 14min

More than a school-leaver's route: Why apprenticeships are becoming a retention strategy in early years

Apprenticeships are often viewed as an entry route for young people, but they can also provide a valuable pathway for developing and retaining existing early years staff. This article and podcast epis...

28 Syys 37min

Are our expectations of children in early childhood evidence informed?

What does it really mean for a child to be 'school ready', and are the expectations we place on children actually informed by evidence? Adam Marycz explores how policy, accountability and long-held as...

22 Syys 46min

Reimagining outdoor learning: Understanding agency from risk to resilience

This podcast episode and article are a research-informed exploration of how outdoor environments, adult language and risk narratives shape children's agency. Drawing on the Reimagining Outdoor Learni...

14 Syys 42min

Marketing your early childhood setting is an investment, not a cost

This article and podcast episode explore why marketing should be viewed as an investment rather than a cost, why profitability matters for sustainability, the role a setting's website plays in both oc...

7 Syys 39min

Beyond the diagnosis: Navigating the SEND journey with families

Receiving a SEND diagnosis is a transformative moment for families. This podcast episode and article explore how practitioners bridge the gap between statutory requirements and empathetic support, emp...

31 Elo 24min

Early childhood safeguarding changes 2026: Moving beyond compliance to a culture of safety

Maggie Bolger and Ann Marie Christian explore the changing safeguarding landscape in early childhood, including KCSIE, the EYFS, safer recruitment, reporting concerns and the September changes. They a...

24 Elo 1h 2min