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Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Landscape Architecture

College

Arts and Sciences

Department

Landscape Architecture, Disaster Resiliency & Emergency Management (LADREM)

Faculty Advisor

Juncheng Lu

Studio Coordinator

Jay Kost

Faculty Chair

Dominic Fischer

Publisher

North Dakota State University

Rights

NDSU policy 190.6.2

URI

https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdf

Abstract

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and other learning disabilities make traditional education challenging because it often requires sitting still, following routines, and focusing for long periods, things many ADHD students struggle with. Their need for movement, hands-on learning, and flexible thinking doesn’t match rigid classroom structures. As a result, they can feel misunderstood, leading to frustration and low self-esteem. Incorporating outdoor education and naturalistic play spaces in schools is especially beneficial for students with ADHD, as it supports focus and attention through calming, restorative environments. Nature-based play and education settings help reduce hyperactivity by encouraging physical movement, which in turn improves classroom behavior and emotional regulation. These spaces also provide rich sensory experiences that support cognitive development and help children better process their surroundings. Learning outdoors through hands-on activities enhances engagement and memory retention, especially for kinesthetic learners. Overall, natural environments foster inclusion, creativity, and social growth, offering students with ADHD alternative ways to succeed and feel confident. Urban life isn’t the direct and only cause for ADHD, but it needs to be considered. Urban environments can make symptoms worse. Noise, pollution, and over-stimulation in cities affect focus and self-regulation. Limited green space and a fast-paced lifestyle add stress and reduce chances for mental and physical restoration, which are key for managing ADHD and further exacerbates learning difficulty in the classroom. Bancroft Elementary is in the suburbs of Minneapolis and has several students that live directly in the city.

Soothed by Nature: Bring the Nature to the ADHD Students

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