When’s the last time your child ran barefoot in the grass? Played in the dirt? Sat under a tree with no agenda?
For most kids today, nature isn’t their default. Screens are. Structured play is. Indoor living is. But something’s missing, and I believe it’s costing us more than we realize.
Our children were made to be connected to the Earth. Literally.
There’s a simple practice called grounding that’s been quietly gaining traction in holistic wellness circles. It’s the act of putting your bare skin in contact with the Earth, walking barefoot in the grass, playing in the dirt, laying down on the sand. The kind of thing kids used to do instinctively before we paved over their childhoods with rubber mulch and screen time.
It sounds simple because it is. But it also might be one of the most effective natural resets for your child’s nervous system.
What the Research Says
Adults who practice grounding have seen improvements in sleep, stress, inflammation, and emotional regulation. And while there’s less formal research in children, their developing systems are arguably even more sensitive to environmental imbalances, including the absence of nature.
A study in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health found that grounding helped normalize cortisol levels, which is the body’s stress hormone, and improved sleep patterns. Those same stress pathways, cortisol, melatonin, circadian rhythm, are the ones we worry about in our kids when they’re anxious, restless, not sleeping well, or constantly overstimulated.
📚 Chevalier G, Sinatra ST, Oschman JL, Sokal K, Sokal P. Earthing: health implications of reconnecting the human body to the Earth’s surface electrons. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:291541. doi: 10.1155/2012/291541. Epub 2012 Jan 12. PMID: 22291721; PMCID: PMC3265077.
Link to study
How to Start Grounding with Your Kids
You don’t need a supplement. You don’t need a therapy session. You need dirt. Sand. Grass. Trees. Here are a few simple ways to begin:
- Barefoot play! Let them kick off their shoes in the backyard. Even 15–30 minutes helps.
- Dig in the garden. If you’re growing herbs or vegetables, let your child plant, water, and touch the soil.
- Lay under the sky with your kids! Grab a towel, lay it out on the lawn, a moment of stillness, and no agenda.
- Beach days or park visits are also great. Prioritize places where they can touch the Earth with more than just their sneakers.
- Nature as part of the rhythm. Make it part of the daily routine, not an occasional field trip.
A Nervous System Reset You Can’t Bottle
I’m not saying grounding is the only answer, but I am saying it’s a missing piece. A child who gets outside and touches the Earth regularly is more likely to regulate their emotions, fall asleep easier, and experience less anxious energy throughout the day.
There’s something sacred about watching your child settle after time in nature. It’s as if their body remembers what we’ve forgotten: healing doesn’t always come in a bottle or a protocol. Sometimes it’s right under our feet.
Let’s give our children back what they were never meant to lose.