American children are spending more time indoors with their tablets, TVs, and computers than ever before.
A 2004 study by the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan (Juster, Thomas, et al.
) shows that, even then, children were spending half as much time outdoors as in the previous twenty years.
In his best-selling book, Last Children in the Woods, (Alonquin Books, 2008), author Richard Louv, recipient of the 2008 Audubon medal, coined the term "nature deficit disorder" to describe the phenomena.
In 2012, the World Congress of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), meeting in Jeju, South Korea, passed a resolution declaring that children have a human right to experience the natural world.
Due to development and poor urban planning, American children have less access to outdoor play areas and parks.
Parents naturally want to keep their children safe and supervised, plus, the distractions of television, the internet, and computer games, make giving children a relaxed interaction with the natural world a challenge, rather than an obvious choice.
But childhood obesity has become a problem in the United States: The Institute of Medicine claims that over the past 30 years, childhood obesity has more than doubled for adolescents and more than tripled for children aged 6-11.
A positive relationship with the natural world can help children get more exercise, a proven tonic for stress and mood disorders.
Here are some easy ways for families to enjoy the benefits of the natural world together:
It's easy to do, and it's fun!
A 2004 study by the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan (Juster, Thomas, et al.
) shows that, even then, children were spending half as much time outdoors as in the previous twenty years.
In his best-selling book, Last Children in the Woods, (Alonquin Books, 2008), author Richard Louv, recipient of the 2008 Audubon medal, coined the term "nature deficit disorder" to describe the phenomena.
In 2012, the World Congress of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), meeting in Jeju, South Korea, passed a resolution declaring that children have a human right to experience the natural world.
Due to development and poor urban planning, American children have less access to outdoor play areas and parks.
Parents naturally want to keep their children safe and supervised, plus, the distractions of television, the internet, and computer games, make giving children a relaxed interaction with the natural world a challenge, rather than an obvious choice.
But childhood obesity has become a problem in the United States: The Institute of Medicine claims that over the past 30 years, childhood obesity has more than doubled for adolescents and more than tripled for children aged 6-11.
A positive relationship with the natural world can help children get more exercise, a proven tonic for stress and mood disorders.
Here are some easy ways for families to enjoy the benefits of the natural world together:
- Plant something.
Buy a packet of seeds, and follow the directions for sprouting.
Or, take an organic potato, stick a toothpick in each side, put it in a glass of water, and set it on the windowsill.
Let your small child tend the plant, watch it grow, and experience the joy of gardening at home. - Get an ant farm.
Boys especially love insects, but girls are not immune to their charms.
Ant farms require little maintenance, making them perfect for classrooms and for children new to pet care.
Children will learn about animals by observing the ant colony and its life cycle. - Make a mini-terrarium in a jar: the cost is minimal, and the rewards are great.
There are different types of terrariums, and this can be something to explore with your child. - Collect rocks, shells, leaves, seeds, cones, sticks and other natural items of interest.
Dried leaves can be pressed into a scrapbook, and rocks identified by type, giving children a chance to begin to learn the basics of biology and geology. - Visit a nursery.
Even if you don't intend to buy anything, take your children to visit the local nursery, so that they can look at and enjoy the many varieties of plants and trees.
Be prepared to answer questions, and go back at different times of year to see the changes of season and plant types. - Volunteer for a natural restoration project.
Many communities ask for volunteers to clean up streams, trails, beaches and parks.
Here's a chance to get out in the sun, exercise, do something good for your neighborhood, and meet new people in a safe group context. - Start gardening.
If you have access to even a small bit of earth, you can plant herbs, flowers, or vegetables with your children.
If you don't have any garden space, join or start a community gardening project.
Suggest a community gardening project for your child's classroom, school, or religious organization; volunteer and get involved. - Find a safe, enjoyable park or natural recreation area, and visit it as often as possible.
Sadly, this is not something available to every American child, but it's something to work for in the future.
The more we support and enjoy those that exist, the more such resources will become a priority for our communities. - Visit the zoos, aquariums, and natural history museums in your community.
Admission is an expense, but most zoos and museums offer free days or discounts some of the time.
It's easy to do, and it's fun!
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