Green space and early childhood development: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Developmental Pediatrics
• Urban Ecology

Background:

• Urban environments pose health challenges for children, including reduced physical activity and increased exposure to pollution, noise, and heat.
• Urban green space is increasingly recognized for its benefits to human health and well-being.
• Limited research exists on the specific impact of green space on early childhood development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize existing evidence on the effects of green space exposure on early childhood development.
• To explore the relationship between urban green space and developmental outcomes in children.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published within the last 10 years.
• Searches conducted across major databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, MeSH, PsycINFO) using relevant keywords.
• Study selection, data extraction, and analysis followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Main Results:

• Increased green space during pregnancy associated with higher birth weight and reduced risk of low birth weight (LBW).
• Childhood greenness exposure linked to increased physical activity, lower obesity risk, and reduced neurodevelopmental issues like inattentiveness.
• Green space exposure showed a negative association with wheezing and bronchitis; however, certain plant species may exacerbate asthma symptoms.

Conclusions:

• The body of research on green space and early childhood development is currently limited but shows promising benefits.
• Green space exposure positively influences children's health and well-being in urban settings.
• Further research is crucial to establish causal links between green space quantity/quality and early childhood development.