"Oh! The things that happened in that garden! If you never had a garden, you cannot understand, and if you have had a garden you will know that it would take a whole book to describe all that came to pass there."
The Secret Garden was written in 1911 by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It is the story of how a boy who is sad, lonely, and sickly transforms into a strong, happy child full of joy and excitement. The change occurs when he is exposed to the natural world of trees, flowers, warm sunshine, sweet smells, and wild creatures. He moves out of his isolated, confined indoor existence and becomes a thriving, blossoming, happy child.
Of course,
The Secret Garden is a work of fiction. But let's consider the message of this classic children's story. Can nature have such a profound effect on children's mental health? Does playing and learning in nature positively impact children's psychological and cognitive development?
Early Childhood and Mental Health
The first years of a child's life are a time of rapid brain growth. As children grow and develop the foundations for mental and psychological health are formed. These foundations are established as children learn how to cope, adapt, and relate to others and the world around them. Mental health for children is an important task for everyone who works with or advocates for you children (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2012)
