New research shows that children who grow up near nature become happier adults

via Irudayam / Flickr

Being in nature is soothing to the soul. The air is cleaner. The night sky is darker so it's easier to sleep. And there's something calming about being in the natural harmony of the wilderness.

But, on the other hand, it's tough to find a place to get good sushi or an exciting night club.

This begs the age-old question: is it better to live in the city or the country? The answer has always been, "depends on who you ask," but a new study out of Denmark says that being near dense vegetation is clearly better for one's mental health.

A nationwide study of over 900,000 people published in PNAS showed that "children who grew up with the lowest levels of green space had up to 55% higher risk of developing a psychiatric disorder independent from effects of other known risk factors."

Keep Reading Show less
raising children kids families parenting nature
popular

5 reasons parenting is the world's hardest job — and what makes it all worthwhile.

Parenting is the hardest job on the planet.

Air traffic control? Super stressful job. Brain surgeon? Not for the faint of heart. But parents take on the most relentless and challenging work on Earth every single day. Here's what makes raising humans the toughest job:

1. The responsibility is immense, and the stakes are incredibly high — yet there is no manual.

The first time you hold your baby — the weight of their entire life in your hands — it's nearly impossible not to be overwhelmed. You question whether you're adequate for the task, and the fact that you have no real idea what you're doing hits you. This is a person's life we're talking about. How did you get put in charge of a life?

Keep Reading Show less
parenting parents kids children motherhood moms mothers fatherhood fathers dads parenthood raising kids raising children respect for parents day #respectforparentsday earth
More

I'm teaching my 6- and 7-year-old boys about consent. Here's how it's gone so far.

The second week of first grade, my 6-year-old son came home and told me, very seriously, "Mama, I have a girlfriend, and I love her."

I didn't laugh at him or tell him he is too young to have a girlfriend, and I didn't minimize his feelings. We had a very serious conversation about his girlfriend: what he likes about her, what they talk about at lunch, and what games they play on the playground at recess. I asked questions about her; some he knew the answers to, and some he didn't.

Nearly every day after that for some time, we talked about his girlfriend, and in every conversation, in some way, we talked about consent — what it means, what it looks like, and how I expect him to act.

Keep Reading Show less
parenting dating kids children mothers fathers daughters girls respect consent sons boys raising kids raising children teaching consent
More

This dad is teaching his daughter to love herself and others with a morning mantra.

'Is it gonna be a good day?'

It's important to have morning rituals that help motivate you to take on the day.

Morning yoga on the beach. Photo via iStock.

OK, so not everyone lives near a beach, but don't worry, sun salutations are just as effective in your living room or office as they are at this Instagram-worthy locale.

Keep Reading Show less
parenting mental health parents kids confidence positivity affirmation children motivation raising kids raising children sbuxsafe dfg health and wellness
More