Connecting infants and families with nature

Research already demonstrates that there are significant benefits to the health and wellbeing of adults (Howell, Dopko, Passmore and Buro, 2011; Nisbet, Zelenski and Murphy, 2010) and children (Wells and Evans, 2003; Davis, Rae and Waite, 2006) when they have a greater connection to nature. However, it is not simply spending time in nature that is of the utmost importance. Instead, evidence suggests that it is stand-out moments, filled with awe and wonder, that help create and enhance a connection to nature and foster the human-nature relationship. This chapter will explore the theoretical and research-driven approaches that attempt to explain the importance of nature in our lives. Against the backdrop of the global environmental crisis, it will offer readers an opportunity to consider the pathways by which people develop their connection to nature, the benefits of a closer relationship with nature and the role parents play in fostering this connection. Therefore, this chapter will consider three important avenues of contemporary research: (i) the most salient factors that determine what parents feel able to do for and with their children in nature (Barnes, Harvey, Holland and Wall, 2021), (ii) the types of nature-based interventions that help promote a deeper connection to the natural world ( Hall et al., 2023a; Hall et al., 2023b; Holland, Harvey and Barnes, 2024) and (iii) the implications this has on parental mental health and wellbeing as well as child development ( Hall et al., 2024 ).