Why Childhood Needs More Trees and Fewer Screens

A Reflection from A Touch of the Wild

At A Touch of the Wild, we spend our days watching children do what children have evolved to do for thousands of years: climb trees, build dens, splash in puddles, create imaginary worlds and form friendships through real-life adventures.

It’s a childhood filled with mud, laughter, risk-taking, problem-solving and wonder.

And increasingly, it’s a childhood that feels under threat.

As a Forest School leader and founder of A Touch of the Wild, Hannah has long been passionate about protecting childhood. This passion led her to become involved with the Smartphone Free Childhood movement, a growing community of parents, educators and experts working together to delay smartphone ownership and social media access for children. The movement has helped bring national attention to the impact of smartphones on children’s wellbeing and has played an important role in conversations with government around children’s digital lives.

But this isn’t about being anti-technology.

It’s about being pro-childhood.

Childhood Has Changed Dramatically

Many of us remember growing up with freedom.

We left the house after breakfast and returned when the streetlights came on. We climbed trees, got muddy, explored local woods and learned resilience through play.

Today’s children face a very different reality.

While technology offers many benefits, smartphones and social media have become deeply embedded in children’s lives at increasingly younger ages. Many parents describe feeling pressured to provide devices because “everyone else has one”.

The Smartphone Free Childhood movement was born from this shared concern, encouraging families to work together so no parent feels alone in delaying smartphones until children are older.

What We See in the Woods

Every week at our Forest Kindergarten and Wild Tots sessions, we witness something remarkable.

Children don’t ask for screens.

Given the opportunity, they choose sticks over tablets, dens over devices and campfires over scrolling.

When children spend time outdoors:

• Their imaginations flourish.
• They develop confidence and resilience.
• They learn how to assess risk.
• They build friendships through genuine connection.
• They improve their physical and emotional wellbeing.

Nature provides everything children need to grow.

The challenge is ensuring they have enough time and space to experience it.

The Importance of Boredom

One of the greatest gifts we can give children is boredom.

That may sound strange.

But boredom is often the doorway to creativity.

When children aren’t constantly entertained, they begin inventing games, creating stories, building worlds and solving problems. These are the moments where confidence, curiosity and independence are born.

At A Touch of the Wild, we see this happen every day.

A stick becomes a fishing rod.

A log becomes a pirate ship.

A woodland clearing becomes an entire kingdom.

No batteries required.

Building a Childhood Worth Remembering

The conversation around smartphones can sometimes feel overwhelming.

There is no perfect parent and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

But we can all ask ourselves an important question:

What do we want our children’s memories of childhood to be?

Hours spent scrolling?

Or memories of muddy boots, campfire snacks, bug hunts, tree climbing and adventures with friends?

At A Touch of the Wild, we know which childhood we would choose.

That’s why we are proud to support the growing movement to protect childhood, encourage outdoor play and help children build meaningful connections with the world around them.

Join Us in the Woods

Whether you’re a parent of a toddler, a school-aged child or simply someone who cares about the future of childhood, we invite you to step outside with us.

Come and experience the magic of nature.

Watch your child discover what they’re capable of.

And together, let’s create a childhood filled with adventure, connection and wonder.

Because childhood only happens once.