Tackling Biophobia in Children Through Biophilic Design

The increasing biophobia (disconnection from and fear of nature) among children in the context of rapid urbanization leads to serious problems such as physical inactivity, attention deficits, emotional disorders, and weakened social skills. This study examines the role of biophilic design in helping children reconnect with nature and reducing biophobia. Biophilic design is a design philosophy that supports humans' innate need to connect with nature (biophilia) by integrating natural elements into the built environment. According to literature review and analysis of international examples, contact with nature significantly enhances children's cognitive development, academic achievement, creativity, psychological resilience, and social adaptation. For instance, learning activities conducted in natural environments extend children's attention spans and increase their motivation to learn. However, factors such as unplanned urbanization, reduction of green spaces, digital addiction, and parents' lack of awareness about nature contribute to children's disconnection from nature and increase biophobic tendencies. As seen in the case of Trabzon, where green space ratios in city centers drop to as low as 2-3%, this issue becomes even more pronounced. In this context, the study advocates for the implementation of biophilic design in schoolyards, playgrounds, parks, and educational programs to enhance children's interaction with nature. Proposed strategies include creating green classrooms based on biophilic design principles in schools, developing nature-based curricula, organizing family-involved nature activities, and expanding child-friendly micro-green spaces in urban planning. In conclusion, biophilic design can improve individual well-being by fostering ecological awareness in children while also instilling the love for nature necessary for a sustainable future. Keywords: Biophobia, Biophilic design, Nnature-based education