Green Spaces Support Children’s Brain Development

That neighborhood park might be doing more than offering kids a place to play. A recent UK analysis of U.S. brain scan data suggests that even brief exposure to greenery could shape how a child’s brain develops—particularly in areas tied to learning, focus, and emotional regulation.

Researchers have long observed that kids who grow up near parks and natural spaces tend to do better in school and report fewer mental health issues.

“Our study shows that exposure to green space is associated with children’s neurodevelopmental outcomes over and above other family and neighborhood-level factors,” Divyangana Rakesh, co-lead investigator at King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry and a lecturer in psychology and neuroscience, told The Epoch Times in an email.

This means that, more than household income, parental education, and neighborhood conditions, being in nature had a stronger influence on a child’s brain development.

Satellite images were used to estimate the amount of greenery near each child’s home at ages 9 to 10. Two years later, those children underwent magnetic resonance imaging scans.

The results showed that children with greater access to green space had increased surface area and volume in several key brain regions. These included areas related to sensory processing, motivation, language, and emotional control—such as the temporal lobes and the insular cortex.

The strongest effects were found in the surface area of the prefrontal cortex, which is critical for attention and planning, and in the striatum, a region that is involved in motivation, reward, and goal-setting.

Children in greener areas also showed greater cortical thickness in language-related regions and increased surface area in regions like the insula, which helps regulate emotion and attention.

Nature appeared to offer a protective effect during a vulnerable period of brain development. In adolescence, some areas of the brain undergo natural thinning of gray matter as part of the brain’s normal pruning and reorganization. However, children in greener areas showed less of this typical thinning.

In areas of the brain that typically grow during this period, green space supported that expansion, according to the researchers. And in regions that usually shrink, green space was linked to slower decline.

In contrast, this study found that greenspace appeared to have the opposite effect. The researchers believe that high-income environments tend to involve more structured lifestyles and are more cognitively demanding, while natural settings may be more restorative.

Additionally, green space exposure was linked to better mental health and academic achievement in children.

When kids are under chronic stress, their bodies produce more cortisol, a hormone that—over time—can interfere with healthy brain growth, especially in areas tied to attention, emotion, and memory.

Being in natural settings, the researchers suggest, may help lower cortisol levels and reduce inflammation. That creates a healthier environment for the brain to grow and change. It may also help explain why children exposed to more green space showed slower thinning of the cortex and more growth in surface area—a sign of more flexible, extended development.

Researchers also proposed that nature gives people a different kind of brain stimulation that allows for a more protective brain development.

Urban areas are full of alerts—sirens, signs, screens—that demand focused attention. Nature works differently. Things like birdsong or rustling leaves gently capture children’s attention without overloading the brain, which helps it recharge.

Psychologist Gloria Mark, a professor of informatics at the University of California–Irvine, told The Epoch Times that her research has shown that even 20 minutes in nature can help people feel less stressed and think more creatively.

Schoolyards, for example, can be redesigned to include more trees, gardens, and natural play areas, Rakesh said. Urban planners could prioritize tree-lined streets, green rooftops, and community nature events—especially in neighborhoods with limited access to parks.

“These are not just expenses, but a long-term investment in children’s well-being.”

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