Yesterday, one of my friends on Facebook posted this profound image. It really made me think, "how disconnected from the natural world are most people?" Sadly, I think most of us know. The idea of Nature deficit disorder was suggested to me by Robert Pyle (a local author of the book "wintergreen") a number of years ago. After hearing that I had a young daughter, he suggested I read "Last Child in the Woods" . So, I bought a copy of the book and forever changed my child raising thoughts.
Remember playing outside? Running unsupervised through a woodlot? Making decisions that could result in injury if they were wrong? Would you let your kids do these same things? Most people would say, NO. You just can't let kids do that these days. How does this affect the kids?
The effect of this is, a society disconnected from nature. A "Nature Deficit Disorder". The sense of wonder is lost as children are bombarded by technical, visual stimulus that nature can't possibly compete with. Since there is no connection with nature, there is no need to waste time protecting it, and it creates a downward spiral. Woodlots get bulldozed, natural places lose value, and no one is left to protect them.
What can we do? Well, first I suggest you buy the book (actually, buy Roberts's book too) and read about the disorder and the effect it can have on your kids.. Don't have kids? Well, then find someone else's kids and take them outside. Walk through a woodlot, take a canoe trip, turn over rocks in a stream, anything outside. Kids that have unstructured outdoor play also learn risk assessment at a very young age. Kids that learn risk assessment at a young age are also more "street smart" than kids who only play in padded playgrounds. Let's try to create a generation that can still appreciate natural beauty and wild places.
Remember playing outside? Running unsupervised through a woodlot? Making decisions that could result in injury if they were wrong? Would you let your kids do these same things? Most people would say, NO. You just can't let kids do that these days. How does this affect the kids?
The effect of this is, a society disconnected from nature. A "Nature Deficit Disorder". The sense of wonder is lost as children are bombarded by technical, visual stimulus that nature can't possibly compete with. Since there is no connection with nature, there is no need to waste time protecting it, and it creates a downward spiral. Woodlots get bulldozed, natural places lose value, and no one is left to protect them.
What can we do? Well, first I suggest you buy the book (actually, buy Roberts's book too) and read about the disorder and the effect it can have on your kids.. Don't have kids? Well, then find someone else's kids and take them outside. Walk through a woodlot, take a canoe trip, turn over rocks in a stream, anything outside. Kids that have unstructured outdoor play also learn risk assessment at a very young age. Kids that learn risk assessment at a young age are also more "street smart" than kids who only play in padded playgrounds. Let's try to create a generation that can still appreciate natural beauty and wild places.
RSS Feed