It’s no secret that biodiversity has positive effects on all aspects of life, and Finland is leading the charge on increasing children’s exposure to the outdoors. Outdoor playtime is a daily occurrence, and sections of the forest floor are dedicated to growing vegetables and composting leaves and weeds. Various kindergarten classes were included in a study looking at how increased access to biodiversity affects children’s health.
“A year later, it found children playing in the green kindergartens had less disease-causing bacteria – such as Streptococcus – on their skin, and stronger immune defences. … Other research showed that in just two weeks children’s immune system regulation could be improved by playing in a sandpit enriched with garden soil.”
“The kindergartens provide more evidence of just how crucial healthy ecosystems are to human health. As biodiversity, habitats and wild species are lost around the planet, there are huge potential repercussions for human wellbeing”
Posted: December 20, 2025