Academic and Scientific Reports
The following lists are not intended to be exhaustive. California State Parks is not responsible for content found on non-California State Parks sites.
Selected Reports:
Children in Nature Campaign Issue Paper: Researching the Child~Nature Connection (2008). California Department of Parks and Recreation. Prepared by Nicole L. Migliarese
Children and Nature Network, Research and Studies. This site has a variety of reports on various research projects linked to it. Compilation of original, scholarly research or syntheses of existing research which examine the benefits of connecting children and nature and provide recommendations for policies and actions people can take. http://www.childrenandnature.org/#research
The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds. Publication (American Academy of Pediatrics). Addresses factors that have reduced play and offers guidelines on how best to ensure that children to get to play. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/119/1/182
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Government agency. The CDC provides reports, press releases and other information on children’s health issues including diabetes and obesity. http://www.cdc.gov
Relevant reports include, but are not limited to:
Prevalence of Overweight Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 2003-2004 (2007) http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity_child_13_14/obesity_child_13_14.htm
Physical Activity Levels Among Children Aged 9 to 13 Years (2003)
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5233a1.htm
Old Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills, National Public Radio, Morning Edition. Non-profit news agency. Interview with researchers who say imaginative play allows children to make their own rules and practice self-control. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19212514
Youth Sports: Drawing More Than Ever. CNN. For-profit news company. Interview with parents and an examination of the impact that youth sports has on children and families.http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/03/rise.kids.sports/index.html.
University Affiliated
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Landscape and Human Health Laboratory. Public University. Provides information on current and past research on the connection between greenery and human health, media coverage and links to sites about green activities. http://www.lhhl.uiuc.edu/communities.htm
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, School of Natural Resources and Environment, Environmental Psychology Lab. Public University. Provides information on research and researchers studying the interrelationship between environments and human behavior. http://www.snre.umich.edu/eplab/research.html
University of British Columbia, Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab. Public University. Provides information on research into how children’s minds develop and the environmental and biological influences on this development. http://www.devcogneuro.com/
University of Colorado, Boulder, Children, Youth, and Environments: Public University. On-line journal that publishes the latest news on children, youth and their environments. Provides links to additional resources. https://www.cyenetwork.org/
Professional and Non-Profit Organizations
The Paul F-Brandwein Institute, Inc. Non-profit organization. Showcase the institute’s conservation education activities and provides a working environment for ongoing collaboration and dialog among the institute’s fellows, staff and board members. http://www.brandwein.org/preserve/activities
The Association for the Study of Play (TASP): Multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional educational organization. Provides information on conferences, journal, membership and links to other play related websites. http://www.tasplay.org