Parental/Guardians' Connection to Nature Better Predicts Children's Nature Connectedness than Visits or Area Level Characteristics

Serious attention and investments are being made by local, regional, and national organizations into policies and programs geared toward reconnecting children with nature to enhance children's well-being and the well-being of the planet. However, this attention and investment commonly focuses on access to, or time in, nature, rather than on nature connectedness, despite evidence consistently supporting the important role that nature connectedness plays in contributing to greater well-being of both humans and the natural environment. A shift in policy efforts toward focusing on enhancing children's nature connectedness may better serve these dual wellbeing outcomes. Such efforts need to be informed by a greater understanding regarding factors that predict nature connectedness in children. Using data from the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment survey commissioned by Natural England, we assessed child nature connectedness as a function of child, parental/guardians', and area-level characteristics (N=209 children, N=209 adults). Children's age, neighborhood deprivation, and green space emerged as significant predictors of child nature connectedness. Parental/guardians' level of nature connectedness, though, emerged as the strongest predictor of children's nature connectedness, even when considered in concert with other child, adult, and area-level characteristics. Our findings provide important information to help guide nature connection initiatives, emphasizing the need for policy and program efforts to move beyond a focus on access and visits.