In today’s digital era, minors are increasingly drawn to smartphones—using them for entertainment, socializing, or even schoolwork. While phones offer convenience, excessive screen time often isolates young people from the natural world: instead of chasing butterflies in a park or feeling sunlight on their skin, they scroll through virtual content, missing out on the tactile, sensory joys of real-life experiences. This disconnection harms their physical health (e.g., poor eyesight, sedentary lifestyles) and emotional growth (e.g., reduced creativity, increased anxiety). To help minors balance phone use and nature engagement, here are evidence-based, practical health suggestions spanning family, school, and community.
1. Family: Be Role Models and Build “Nature Rituals”
Families are the first influencers of minors’ habits—parents and caregivers must lead by example. If adults constantly check their phones, children will mimic this behavior. Instead, establish “phone-free zones” and “nature time” as non-negotiable routines. For instance:
- Set daily screen limits: Use parental control tools to cap non-educational phone use at 30 minutes per day (e.g., no scrolling during breakfast or before bed). Replace this time with short nature activities: a 15-minute walk around the neighborhood after dinner to spot stars or collect fallen leaves, or watering a small potted plant together.
- Create weekly “nature rituals”: Dedicate one morning or afternoon each weekend to outdoor adventures that match the child’s age. For younger kids, this could be a trip to a local playground to build sandcastles or chase ladybugs; for teens, it might involve hiking a nearby trail, fishing at a lake, or gardening in the backyard. During these outings, keep all family phones in a bag—modeling that “being present” matters more than checking messages.
- Link nature to family bonding: Turn nature activities into shared experiences. For example, have a “nature scavenger hunt” where everyone looks for specific items (a red flower, a smooth rock, a bird’s nest) and shares their finds over a picnic. This not only reduces phone use but also helps minors associate nature with joy and connection.
2. Schools: Integrate Nature into Learning and Activities
Schools play a critical role in reinforcing nature engagement, as minors spend most of their weekdays in educational settings. Teachers and administrators can design initiatives that make nature part of daily life:
- Outdoor-based lessons: Replace traditional classroom sessions with nature-focused learning. For a science class, take students to a school garden to observe plant growth or collect soil samples instead of watching videos. For a language arts class, have them write poems or stories inspired by the sounds of a nearby forest or the colors of a meadow. This not only cuts down on screen time but also makes learning more vivid and memorable.
- Nature-focused extracurriculars: Offer clubs and activities that encourage outdoor participation, such as a gardening club (where students grow vegetables and herbs), a bird-watching group, or a hiking team. These activities provide alternatives to phone-based hobbies (like gaming or social media) and let minors develop skills—such as teamwork, patience, and observation—while interacting with the natural world.
- “No Phone” breaks: Implement short daily breaks where students are required to go outside (e.g., during recess or after lunch) and engage in unstructured play—like skipping rope, playing frisbee, or exploring a school’s green space. Unstructured outdoor time helps minors relax, reduce stress from screen use, and rediscover the joy of spontaneous exploration.
3. Communities: Provide Accessible Nature Spaces and Events
Communities can lower barriers for minors to access nature by creating safe, welcoming outdoor spaces and organizing family-friendly events:
- Enhance local green spaces: Ensure parks, community gardens, and nature trails are well-maintained, safe, and equipped with simple amenities (like benches or picnic tables) for families. Add signs with fun nature facts (e.g., “Did you know this tree can live for 100 years?”) to spark minors’ curiosity and encourage them to explore.
- Host regular nature events: Organize monthly activities such as “family nature workshops” (where kids learn to make crafts from natural materials like pinecones or leaves), “night sky observation nights” (with telescopes to look at stars), or “beach cleanups” (for coastal communities). These events make nature engagement social and accessible, 吸引 ing minors who might be hesitant to go outside alone.
- Partner with local organizations: Collaborate with zoos, botanical gardens, or environmental groups to offer discounted or free entry for minors. Many of these organizations host educational programs—like “junior naturalist” workshops or guided nature walks—that teach kids about ecosystems while letting them interact with plants and animals firsthand.
4. Cultivate Minors’ Personal Connection to Nature
Ultimately, the goal is to help minors develop a genuine love for nature—so they choose to put down their phones because they want to, not just because they’re told to. Here’s how to foster this connection:
- Encourage “nature journaling”: Give minors a small notebook to record their outdoor experiences—drawing a butterfly they saw, writing about the feeling of wind on their face, or noting how a tree changes with the seasons. Journaling helps them reflect on nature’s beauty and notice details they might otherwise miss.
- Let them lead exploration: Let minors choose what nature activities they want to try. If a child is interested in insects, let them spend time observing ants in the yard; if they love water, take them to a creek to skip stones. When kids feel in control, they’re more likely to stay engaged and less likely to reach for their phones.
- Highlight nature’s benefits for them: Talk to minors about how nature makes them feel—for example, “Remember how calm you felt after our hike?” or “Didn’t it make you happy to see the flowers we planted bloom?” Helping them link nature to positive emotions strengthens their motivation to seek out outdoor experiences.
Conclusion
Reducing minors’ phone use and encouraging nature engagement is not about banning technology—it’s about helping them find balance. By combining family guidance, school support, community resources, and personal interest cultivation, we can help young people step away from screens and into the real world. When minors climb a tree, feel rain on their hands, or watch a sunset, they don’t just “experience nature”—they build resilience, creativity, and a lifelong appreciation for the world around them. These real, tangible moments are far more valuable than any virtual content, and they lay the foundation for a healthy, happy, and connected life.