There is an unseen role of technology that can help children reconnect with nature. Nowadays, more and more young kids spend most of their time indoors. This is due to three main reasons: lack of access to green spaces, safety concerns, and digital entertainment. As a result, some researchers refer to this trend as “the extinction of experience.” However, technology can act as a bridge between children and the outdoors when used creatively.
Spending time in nature benefits children in many ways, promoting physical activity, focus, and self-control. Studies have shown that outdoor environments enhance learning. This has sparked interest in nature-based programs, such as forest schools and nature play in early childhood education.
Urbanization and parental concerns are often the main reasons kids stay indoors. However, technology is often blamed as a major distraction. Many believe that digital entertainment can be addictive, and most children surpass the screen-time recommendations set by health experts. But what if digital tools could actually help kids connect with nature?
Research has explored this idea, asking if digital technology can be crafted to encourage outdoor activities and nature connection. Studies on children under eight have shown that various tech tools can support nature experiences. These tools offer creative ways for kids to rediscover the outdoors.
Phases of Connecting with Nature
Kids can connect with nature on different levels. They move through phases like “being in nature,” “being with nature,” and eventually, “being for nature.” Experiences that deepen this connection include spending free time outdoors, seeing role models enjoy nature, documenting nature encounters, and building confidence in the environment. Technologies can assist in this process by helping kids:
- Engage socially and playfully outside
- Discover and explore natural settings
- Show concern for different species and the environment
- Channel their creativity and curiosity toward nature
One of the most popular tools in these studies was the digital camera, from handheld versions to GoPros and smartphone cameras. Across different countries, these devices helped kids see nature in fresh ways. For example, in São Paulo, Brazil, photography encouraged children to pay attention to local urban nature they’d overlooked. In the U.S., kids used photography to catalog various species they encountered. Australian children took photos in local parks, later transforming them into creative projects. In Finland, an augmented reality “forest elf” guided kids on imaginative journeys, which they could capture in photos.
Nature photography also introduces children to citizen science. Apps like QuestaGame allow kids to capture wildlife images, blending the fun of games like Pokémon Go with real-world nature exploration. While QuestaGame wasn’t part of the study, similar apps encourage kids to log their findings, sparking enthusiasm in even younger children with some help from parents.
Sound technology adds another layer to the experience. Tools like the Ambient Birdhouse, which plays bird sounds indoors, help children recognize these sounds when they encounter them outdoors.
The Eko nature sound collector allows kids to capture and manipulate sounds from their surroundings via an app, fostering a deeper connection to the natural soundscape. Like photography, sound technology offers an accessible entry point into nature, even for pre-readers.
Practical Tips for Parents and Teachers
There are many ways parents and teachers can use existing tech to foster kids’ connections with nature. Simple tools like cameras can encourage kids to explore and document their surroundings. Games like QuestaGame can create friendly challenges, either at home or in school.
Parents can add an element of surprise by covering the camera screen, so kids only see their photos afterward. Setting up automatic wildlife cameras around the yard or garden can also create excitement, as kids check for new images daily and experiment with camera placement.
Creating digital stories from their nature photos or learning about different species together can add a layer of creativity and scientific learning to these activities. And developers can design technology specifically for young kids, making it easy to use, engaging multiple senses, and encouraging outdoor play and wonder.
Collaborating with families, children, and educators in creating these tech tools could help ensure they’re practical and widely adopted. By acknowledging parental concerns about screen addiction and safety, we can work toward a balance where children feel safe to explore the outdoors, aided by tech that supports—not replaces—nature experiences.
In short, technology has the potential to support children’s interest in nature, transforming screens from barriers to bridges that lead them back outside.
