S2.29: Strengthening Minds: Nature-Based Learning for Child Well-being

We know that hunter-gatherer societies are where our human evolution is still at. We know that we have not evolved at the speed that modern technology has so rapidly changed the world we live in. We know that in terms of human evolution, hunter-gatherer societies were simply one tiny gene shift away.

The group most impacted by this is children in schools, with modern high-stakes exams, sitting at desks, and highly structured environments. Humans simply didn’t evolve to learn best by a single adult instructing a same-age group of children. We evolved to learn by play, example, and practice. 

Happily, even small changes can make a difference. In this episode I share my experiences as a parent volunteer chaperone at our International School of Luxembourg’s Nature-Based Learning for Well-Being program, on a wonderful day out recently.

Here's a sneak peek: 

• How independent learning outdoors can bolster social and emotional confidence.
• The connections I see between trauma-informed spaces, neurodiversity, and their collective importance in shaping supportive environments.
• I share a little what I’ve learned recently about the evolutionary biology that is thought to underpin ADHD, that challenges the traditional medical narratives.
• Movement in learning isn't just beneficial, it's essential — echoing the natural ways our hunter-gatherer ancestors learned and thrived.

Some timestamps:

00:00 Modern life causing high stress.

06:27 Living in urban environments as “evolutionary mismatch”.

09:00 Neurodivergence.

11:38 Research on ADHD and hunter-gatherer societies.

16:32 Adding movement improves focus and learning.

22:45 Dogs in schools.

26:10 Embracing neurodiversity and trauma-informed approaches.

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