Being outside in nature and away from screens has been shown to have a really positive impact on your wellbeing - it's even got a name "green therapy."
Despite this known link, there's been a huge spike in screen time, at the expense of spending time outdoors. New research from the National Camping and Caravanning Club has found that the average Brit hasn’t been on a countryside walk or seen the sun set for more than a year.
We spoke to CBeebies nature presenter and Strictly champion ‘Ranger’ Hamza Yassin about why it's important to get outside and into nature with your family. Hamza's also given us some tips for what you can do whilst you're there!
Hamza: Hello, I'm Hamza Yassin and here are a few tips about how you can get your kids out in the natural world this summer. You see the benefits of being outdoors. All the kids sleep so much better after they've been outdoors. They feel alive. They're running around. Every single parent that I've spoken to that has had kids outdoors, they go, "Oh, it's all the fresh air. It's a fresh air that makes them fall asleep." Well, it's a combination of things. It's the fresh air. It's the exercise is the movement. It's healthy for you. You get a bit of vitamin D. Take your shoes off, at the correct place where there's a bit of grass, and you know it's safe to do so. Stick your feet in the grass. Get your sensory overload, as such. Touch the grass. Feel it. What does it feel like? Is it wet? Is it moist? Is it dry? Put your toes in there. Take a deep breath. Take a deep breath and listen. Listen to what's around you. Stay up a little bit later, watch the sunset and then stargaze. It's one of the best things that you can do. We've been doing some research here at the Camping and Caravanning Club, and we figured out that there's a whole load of people in the UK that have not gone out and seen a sunset in the last year. They've not gone on a country walk. Everyone stuck on a screen nowadays. Some people are even watching nature through a screen. They're not getting a chance to go out and experience it themselves. I think the next generation is really important. If we manage to educate the next generation about how wonderful our planet is, they are going to be so much better at looking after it than we are. It's really important that people get the chance to spend time outdoors. It will be lovely that during this summer you get the chance to take your kids out, teach them about the natural world and get to know your kids as well.
“If we manage to educate the next generation about how wonderful our planet is, they are going to be so much better at looking after it than we are.” – Hamza Yassin
Hamza's top tips for getting into nature with your family
1. Stick your feet in the grass
Hamza's first tip is to let your kids' feet feel the grass, and you can join them too. He says: "Take your shoes off, at the correct place, where there’s a bit of grass, and you know it’s safe to do so…"
This simple way to reconnect with nature is also a great exercise in mindfulness. Having a sensory experience like this can really take your or your child's mind off stressors that come up as you go about your daily lives.
2. Take a deep breath and listen to what’s around you.
When you spend a lot of time around screens, either on a computer at work or watching TV, it can be easy to forget how special the natural world is. Hamza suggests you should "take a deep breath and listen to what's around you." Get outside with your kids, even to a local park, and spend a few moments listening to the sounds of the natural world. You could even use Bitesize Parenting's Birdwatching Guide to help you identify common British birdsongs!
3. Stay up a little bit later, watch the sunset, and then stargaze.
Watching the sunset, especially if it's particularly colourful, can be a great way to end the day as a family, and if you're able to stay up a little bit later, then you can check out the night sky with your kids. Hamza says: "Star gazing is one of the best things you can do." Throughout 2026, there'll be lots to see in the night sky, so why not swap scrolling through the streaming services for something to watch for a family night watching the stars instead!
More from BBC Bitesize Parenting…
Five simple ways to create a sensory garden at home
Parents can have great fun making a sensory garden with younger and older children
Why playing out and exploring is good for our kids
Steve Backshall, Helen Glover and child psychology expert Helen Dodd have some advice for parents.
