At Young Friends, the role of food and nutrition is extremely important, and yet it is only one part of the picture.
A child’s environment, the air they breathe, the nature they touch, the animals they interact with, plays a powerful role in supporting their wellbeing.
The Human Microbiome
Our bodies are made up of millions of bacteria. They inhabit the skin and gut and form a community of microbes called the human microbiota. These are essential for life, acting as a symbiotic organ that assists in digestion, protects against pathogens and trains the immune system. Research shows these bacteria help with our digestive systems, our mental health, our immune systems, our energy, our metabolism and our brain function.(1)
The Nurture of Nature
The trees and plants in our nursery garden do far more than create a calming, beautiful space. They also support children’s health. When children play outdoors, they naturally breathe in tiny, harmless microbes from soil, leaves and the surrounding environment. These environmental microbes help feed their own microbiome and support immune development.
Nature can improve both physical and emotional wellbeing. Research suggests that natural environments can impact upon all human-associated microbial communities, which in turn could influence nerve cell communication, providing plausible mechanisms by which external environmental microbiota can bring about feelings of pleasure and change our mental and physical health for the better.
Local Trees, Local Benefits
The trees in the Young Friends garden come from nearby woodland and are native to our area. This means the children are interacting with the same natural environment their bodies are already adapted to. It is a soothing, grounding space that helps children regulate their emotions while also supporting their immune systems in a completely natural way.
The Benefits of Being Close to the Sea
Young Friends is located just up from the coast, and this is a real advantage for children’s health. Sea air contains natural minerals such as iodine and magnesium, which have gentle anti-inflammatory effects on the airways. Some research also suggests that the negative ions found in sea air can support mood and sleep and even counteract the effects of pollution. Simply spending time outdoors near the coast can help children breathe more easily and feel more settled.
The Role of Animals in Building Resilience
Animals also contribute to a healthy microbiome. Being around pets introduces children to a wider variety of harmless microbes, which can help strengthen their immune responses. The beautiful rabbits are not only a joy to spend time with. They also provide a calming presence and support children’s emotional regulation, as well as encouraging them to nurture another living being.
A Whole-Environment Approach to Wellbeing
At Young Friends, children spend their days in an environment that supports every part of their development and enables them to thrive. By surrounding them with nature, animals, fresh air and opportunities for calm regulation, they are able to build strong bodies, resilient immune systems and become confident, happy learners.
Further reading: The-human-microbiome-factsheet-ReAct-Dec-2017-2.pdf
