Background

Global interest in children’s wellbeing is growing and is now central to major international policy documents regarding children’s life quality (e.g. UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing). Research suggests that children’s wellbeing is linked to developing positive learning attitudes and coping successfully with change; conversely, low emotional wellbeing can lead to mental health problems. Critically, 10% of children in England suffer a severe mental health illness and suicide is the third leading cause of death in young people (Merikangas et al., 2010); this figure is higher for vulnerable groups, such as those from areas of high socio-economic deprivation.

Substantial benefits for wellbeing may be derived from contact with nature and lack thereof in childhood has been found to be a predictor for adulthood depression.

This participatory study is situated at the intersection of these three issues: a concern with children’s wellbeing; their apparent disconnect with the natural world; and the potential of arts-based practice.

Research is being undertaken using arts-based practice of the charity Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination (CCI) within two primary schools in Cambridgeshire. The overarching research question addressed by the research is: How does working with artists in nature influence children’s wellbeing?