Children’s Nature Use and Related Constraints: Nationwide Parental Surveys from Norway in 2013 and 2023

Vegard Gundersen (), Zander Venter, Odd Inge Vistad, Berit Junker-Köhler and Line Camilla Wold
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Vegard Gundersen: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NO-2624 Lillehammer, Norway
Zander Venter: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NO-0855 Oslo, Norway
Odd Inge Vistad: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NO-2624 Lillehammer, Norway
Berit Junker-Köhler: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NO-2624 Lillehammer, Norway
Line Camilla Wold: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NO-2624 Lillehammer, Norway

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 7, 1-18

Abstract: A growing number of research studies show that children spend less time in natural environments, which may have detrimental effects on children’s mental and physical health. This study explores changes in children’s (6–12 years) use of nearby nature and constraints on playing in nature between 2013 and 2023. We apply an ecological approach, including individual, social, and structural constraints on outdoor play. The study is based on national surveys of parents reporting child play behavior for eight activity categories and nineteen categories of constraints/motivation. Findings reveal a decreasing tendency for time spent on all activity categories and increasing constraints for 17 of 19 categories during the study period. Our ecological approach reveals that there is less time for children’s nature use in contemporary society, and activities are more common in built areas than in nature. The survey identifies some important socio-cultural differences regarding gender, age, and residential setting. In future research, the focus should be on how reduced connection to nature affects children’s mental and physical health, and beyond this, how it affects the understanding of and care for nature among future generations.

Keywords: neighborhood; nature contact; outdoor play; spontaneous play; urban nature; childhood; natural environment; urban forest (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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