A major new study has shown that regular visits to parks and green spaces during the first 11 years of a child's life have a positive effect on their mental health and social-emotional development. The findings of the work, published in the authoritative journal Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, underscore the importance of accessible green spaces for the healthy upbringing of children.
Key Findings of the Study
The study involved 4 219 people. The researchers analyzed data on how often children visited parks from birth to 11 years of age and assessed their social-emotional development—the set of skills needed to manage emotions, build relationships, observe social norms, and cope with everyday difficulties.
The main result proved impressive: children who were taken to the park at least once a week during the first 11 years of life scored on average 16,5% more points in mental health assessments compared with those who visited green spaces less than once a week. Notably, this positive effect persisted even after accounting for factors such as the family's socioeconomic status and the presence of internal family problems.
The study also found that regular park walks contribute to improvements in both internalizing behavioral indicators (a reduction in emotional symptoms and problems in relationships with peers) and externalizing ones (a decrease in conduct problems, hyperactivity, and inattention).
Why Are Parks So Important for Development?
The study's lead author, Mark Ferguson of the University of Exeter (UK), notes the multifaceted nature of the benefits of green spaces:
"Parks give children space for physical activity, which is known to support both mental and physical health. In addition, they encourage bold and creative play that helps develop self-confidence and independence. We believe that parks can be not merely places for play, but also an important resource for the healthy development of children."
Parks as a Tool for Social Equity
Particular attention in the work is given to the influence of family background on the frequency of park visits. It emerged that children from more affluent neighborhoods tend, as a rule, to walk in parks more often at an early age. At the same time, children from less well-off families begin to visit them more often as they grow older.
The study's authors emphasize that parks and playgrounds have the potential to reduce inequality in children's development, but only on condition that they are genuinely convenient and accessible to all families.
This is where the so-called “equigenic effect” (equigenic effect) comes into play. This term describes the ability of certain physical or social conditions (in this case, high-quality green spaces) to act as an equalizing force. Because parks are free and open to all, they can reduce differences in health status, psychological well-being, and developmental levels between children from different socioeconomic groups.
What does this mean for parents and urban planners?
- For parents: Regular, even brief, walks in the park from early childhood are a simple and free investment in a child's long-term mental health and social adaptation.
- For authorities and urbanists: For parks to deliver maximum benefit, communities need high-quality green spaces. They must be safe, accessible (including for people with limited mobility), and welcoming to families of any income level and background.
The study once again confirms: nature within the city limits is not merely an element of landscape design, but a crucial component of the public health system and the social development of the future generation.
Source: Euronews, data from a study by the University of Exeter published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (November 2026).
