Green Spaces Positively Affect Children’s Brain Health, Study Reveals

By Adebowale Bello. B.Tech Microbiology, Freelance Health Writer. Medically reviewed by the DLHA team.

African children playing in an open field. Photo by Workman House

Imagine a child growing up in a neighbourhood where trees line the streets, parks are nearby and green lawns surround schools. Now imagine another child growing up in a crowded slum with little or no green space.

Scientists have long believed that the environment where children grow up can shape their health but new research suggests it could also affect how their brains develop.

A recent large study from the United States has found for example, that when pregnant women live in greener areas, it can improve their health and in turn, reduce the risk of certain brain-related conditions in their babies. This is important news, especially for parents and communities in parts of Africa where rapid urban growth is reducing access to natural green spaces.

About the Study

The study was carried out by researchers from Harvard and other leading institutions. They wanted to see whether green spaces influence how a child's brain develops and the risks of brain conditions like autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning difficulties, speech and language problems and behavioural challenges.

The researchers used health records of over 1.8 million mothers and children enrolled in Medicaid, the health programme for low-income families in the U.S. They looked at how much greenery was around mothers' homes before pregnancy, during pregnancy and after the child was born. To measure this, they used satellite images that can detect the presence of plants and vegetation.

By following these children for up to 14 years, the scientists were able to see whether growing up near more greenery made any difference in their brain development.

What the Study Found

The scientists discovered that children who lived in greener areas such as parks, forests, and green spaces had a lower risk of developing certain brain conditions. The benefits start even before birth.

• When mothers are around more greenery before getting pregnant, their children have a 34% lower risk of intellectual disabilities.
• Green spaces during pregnancy are also linked to a lower risk (17%) of autism in children and after birth, being around nature can help kids face fewer learning difficulties as they grow.

The study also found that these benefits were even stronger for Black and Hispanic children who lived in cities while boys seemed to benefit more than girls in some conditions, such as speech and language disorders.

These findings suggest that nature does not just beautify our surroundings but can also play a protective role in children’s brain health.

How Green Spaces Affect a Child's Brain Health

You may wonder how green spaces can affect a child’s brain. Scientists suggest several reasons:

• Cleaner air: Plants absorb pollutants and produce oxygen, improving the air children breathe.

• Lowers stress: Green environments are calming, which helps both to destress pregnant mothers and growing children.

• More play and activity: Children in greener areas are more likely to play outside, which boosts learning and social skills.

• Protection from heat: Trees cool down the environment, reducing stress on the body and brain.

Together these benefits create a healthier environment for brain development from pregnancy through childhood.

Related: Exercising in Natural Surroundings More Beneficial Than Indoors, Study

What the Study Means for Africans

Many African cities are growing rapidly, with buildings, roads and businesses often replacing trees, fields and gardens. In some places, parks are scarce and families have few safe, green spaces where children can play. Yet this study shows that access to green space is not just a luxury but a vital part of children’s healthy growth.

Parents can encourage children to spend more time outdoors in safe natural spaces, even if it is just in a small garden while policymakers need to make room for nature in our cities through the planting of trees and vegetation, protecting community parks and ensuring that schools have playgrounds with greenery which can support not just physical health but also mental and brain development in children.

Wrap Up

Urban development should not come at the expense of greenery and this study adds to the growing evidence that your surroundings shape your health in powerful ways. For children, especially those in disadvantaged communities, access to green space can make a real difference in how their brains develop. Governments, community leaders and families can all play a role. Urban planners should design neighbourhoods with parks and trees.

As Africa continues to urbanise, protecting and expanding green spaces is not just about beauty or leisure. It is about giving every child the best chance to grow, learn and thrive because a tree planted today could be an investment in the brain health of future generations.

Source: Choi HM, Huybrechts KF, Hernandez-Diaz S, Qiu X, Leung M, James P, Shupler M, et al. Preconception, prenatal and early childhood exposure to green space and neurodevelopmental delays in children enrolled in Medicaid. Environmental International, 2025;171, 107673. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109666. Available from here

Published: September 23, 2025

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