Nature-Deficit Disorder?
Last week I attended the North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children's annual study conference. The last speaker I heard was Richard Louv, author of Last Child In The Woods: saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. I must first point out that he clearly states in the beginning of the book that nature-deficit disorder is NOT a medical condition, it is a phenomenon of modern childhood.
I know we've all seen those emails that speak of how we all roamed free with no cell phones or wireless locator wristbands when we were kids and we survived to tell about it. Why don't our children have the same freedom to range out and explore the natural world around them? There's lots of answers to that question: fear of abuse or abduction, the overly letiginous nature of modern society, increasing cases of allergies/asthma in children, West Nile virus, Lyme disease, etc. Louv blames a wide variety of modern problems on this phenomenon including: obesity, ADD and depression.
Here's a quote from one of his recent article for the San Diego Union-Tribune:
"For eons, human beings spent most of their formative years exploring the natural world – learning about their limits, about nature's power, exercising their senses.
Today, such experience has nearly disappeared.
In the 1970s, concern about outdoor air pollution, energy conservation and fear of strangers converged with advances in technology; new workplaces and schools became virtual biospheres, sealed from the outside with windows that did not open. The air inside these buildings was even more poisonous. Seeking a safe alternative to outdoor play, some parents began to drive their children to fast-food restaurants with their indoors tunnel-mazes and ball pits – seedbeds of infectious diseases according to the journal Pediatric Nursing. We have grown fat, insulated, inured."
So what can we do? Well, I'm reading his book, so I'll post his ideas, but I'd also love to hear what you think?
Comment away!
I know we've all seen those emails that speak of how we all roamed free with no cell phones or wireless locator wristbands when we were kids and we survived to tell about it. Why don't our children have the same freedom to range out and explore the natural world around them? There's lots of answers to that question: fear of abuse or abduction, the overly letiginous nature of modern society, increasing cases of allergies/asthma in children, West Nile virus, Lyme disease, etc. Louv blames a wide variety of modern problems on this phenomenon including: obesity, ADD and depression.
Here's a quote from one of his recent article for the San Diego Union-Tribune:
"For eons, human beings spent most of their formative years exploring the natural world – learning about their limits, about nature's power, exercising their senses.
Today, such experience has nearly disappeared.
In the 1970s, concern about outdoor air pollution, energy conservation and fear of strangers converged with advances in technology; new workplaces and schools became virtual biospheres, sealed from the outside with windows that did not open. The air inside these buildings was even more poisonous. Seeking a safe alternative to outdoor play, some parents began to drive their children to fast-food restaurants with their indoors tunnel-mazes and ball pits – seedbeds of infectious diseases according to the journal Pediatric Nursing. We have grown fat, insulated, inured."
So what can we do? Well, I'm reading his book, so I'll post his ideas, but I'd also love to hear what you think?
Comment away!
posted by Lois | 8:10 AM
4 Comments:
The backyard garden seems important. And not just for kids.
"Okay this is how much space and labor it takes to get this much food..."
"Wow, it would be tough to feed yourself!"
I love how you've always seemed to make it a point to study nature with Helena and Megan. I almost made a mention of y'all in the main post, but I was pretty sure I'd have the opportunity to do so here in the comments. And for some reason, I don't worry that your girls will ever be in that group that gets too much "screen" time and not enough outside time.
I regret that we have yet to go camping with them.
Maybe when we're done with diapers.
Agreed about the tough to feed yourself comment. There are definite advantages to cooperative workgroups when it comes to gathering food, building shelters, raising children, and giving medical care.
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