Children need nature

Children need nature more than anytime before in our history. Nature is fundamental to children’s physical, mental and spiritual well-being. At a time when the health of our planet is at stake, we need our children to enjoy nature now, and so that they grow into caring stewards of our environment in the future.

Remember "A Christmas Story?" Little Ralphie so desperately wanted a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, but everyone kept admonishing him, "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!" It's the same way with our children today. We keep them from really living and experiencing life because of our own (mostly) irrational fears.

We keep our children indoors and espouse that the reason is “safety.” To a degree, adult fears are understandable. We watch the news and read newspapers. We are overwhelmed with stories of child abductions, death, injuries, food toxins, etc. The doom and gloom is enough to make us want to roll our children in bubble-wrap, and never let them leave the house.

My generation had a free-range childhood. There were no boundaries in my neighborhood and we spent every possible waking minute outside. Our parents weren’t horrible, uncaring people. They just recognized that free play outside was good for you. Today, the thought of allowing our children to freely roam the outdoors, unsettles parents to the core. We worry that they will get hurt in nature, and well, face it, everywhere. They'll fall down, they'll get splinters, they'll bleed, they'll wander into poison ivy, etc. We want to know where our children are at all times.

And, where has this constant vigilance led us? The majority of today’s children have cell phones so that Mom and Dad can know exactly where they are every minute of the day. It is an extension of the umbilical cord. Our children do not know how to make decisions for themselves anymore, because a parent is at the ready to jump in.

Additionally, our children don't know how to play anymore. Children today are shuttled from one organized activity to another. With sports, music lessons, and educational classes, the time for unstructured free play has diminished. They have forgotten how to use their imaginations to invent games and activities.

The end result is that the majority of today’s children suffer from a new diagnosis called, “Nature Deficit Disorder,” which is basically a disconnection from the natural world. Richard Louv wrote a book called, "Last Child in the Woods - Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.” Mr. Louv alleged that children are spending less time outdoors in nature and this has lead to behavioral and health concerns in our children. He stated, “"There is something in us that needs nature. When we don't get it, we don't do so well."

For example, children who have a deficit from nature are more likely to be overweight, sedentary, and suffer from asthma. Additionally, Vitamin D deficiency and ADHD diagnoses are higher in children who spend little time outdoors. Because they are disconnected from the environment, many children are averse to fresh food, which equates to less vegetable intake, and less optimal health.

Is there a chance that our children can recover from this nature deficit? Congress has started a new initiative called, “No Child Left Inside.” Even the Webkinz website has advertisements encouraging children to “Take a Break – Play Outside!” But most importantly, as parents, we must take an active role in changing children's perceptions that nature is something to be feared.

We need to make some resolutions to change this deficit from nature. First of all, we need overcome our own parental fears that “something bad will happen” in nature. We need to provide opportunities for our children to experience natural, wild areas. They should be allowed to touch, and taste, and to smell and enjoy without restrictions and guidance by adults.

We must model how to get in touch with the natural world, starting with shutting off all of our electronic devices, including TVs, Game Boys, Ipods, and computers. We must tune into our children’s observations and explorations of the world outside. Plant a garden with your child to make vegetables more interesting and tasty. Most importantly, model silly behavior for your children. Jump in the puddles or build a fort. They are watching you.

Children need nature, and nature needs our children. Today make a resolution to turn your children loose!