Everyday childhood nature experiences in an era of urbanisation: an analysis of Dutch children’s drawings of their favourite place to play outdoors

ABSTRACT Direct childhood nature experiences have decreased rapidly over the last generations. Similar to the shifting baseline syndrome where new generations accept impoverished biodiversity as a new point of reference, we are at risk not only of having fewer childhood nature experiences, but also of accepting these diminished opportunities to connect with nature as the norm. This paper examines children’s experiences in, and perception of, nature in their day-to-day context. To this end, 1532 Dutch school children’s drawings of their favourite place for playing outdoors were analysed, including the elements that they indicated in their drawings as nature. The study shows that for Dutch children, these favourite places are often playgrounds in built environments and that, in order to counter this decrease in direct day-to-day childhood nature experiences, provision should be made for more natural areas in which children can play without adult supervision.