OUTDOOR

play is as effective in tackling child attention disorders as drugs, a study has found.

Researchers measured attention and other factors in pre-school children, and looked at the amount of time spent outside. Those attending day care who spent more time outdoors showed fewer in attention hyper activity symptoms at ages four, five, six and seven.

‘For some children, high doses of nature may be an effective alternative to medication,’ said the researchers from the universities of Oslo, Montreal and Quebec. They said nature may help the brain to relax. ‘The outdoors allows for restoration of attention resources that have been depleted by noise and other distractions.’