Healing Gardens: Focus Through Nature

The power of therapeutic healing gardens, a six-part series. 

Part 4: Focus Through Nature

Can your garden’s growth also nurture your kids’ academic growth? Garden Girl thinks so. So we’re excited to share some research that supports this notion. 

In a 2010 University of Michigan study, Dr. Rodney H. Matsuoka studied 101 public high schools in Michigan. After controlling for variables like socioeconomic factors, class size, and overall school facility conditions, the results showed clear benefits to schools with connections to nature. The study clearly concluded that views of the natural world (green vegetation, forests, etc.) from classrooms and cafeterias had a positive effect on standardized test scores. In short, all else being equal, facilities with clear sightlines to trees and shrubs had higher graduation rates and college plans. A key element is that views of specifically trees and shrubs were key; views of mowed grass did not have the same effect. Kids tend to score higher in almost all academic disciplines when they can see a living, breathing ecosystem as opposed to when they can only see buildings and parking lots. 

Link to the study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/223757765_Student_performance_and_high_school_landscapes_Examining_the_links

While connection to nature can improve academic outcomes, disconnection may have something of an opposite, negative effect on focus. In order to explore this, let’s examine the Flynn Effect, named for researcher James Flynn. Known for his research on IQ rates, he observed a rise of 3-5 points per decade in developed nations in the 20th century.  However, the trend stalled around the late 1990’s, when studies began to show a drop in IQ points. Is there a correlation here with the beginning of the digital mobile age?

Study here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4152423/

Dr. Flynn reports that interruptions due to constant texting and checking email substantially affects intellect and focus. In fact, stopping a project to text or e-mail can cost someone up to 24 minutes – this includes the time to write the message, as well as the time it takes to get back on task after the disruption.  For example, 3-minute texting exchange during a 40-minute study period may cut in half the effective focus time. 

From this, we at Garden Girl conclude that a quiet space to do homework and/or study, designed to minimize distractions and disruption, may well save you a ton in tutoring costs, not to mention college tuition. A place with views of greenery and nature can provide even greater benefits!