Our children are losing out on valuable experiences that would help them to succeed in school, social circumstances, and overall quality of life. How is this happing you may ask? It’s all due to ‘Nature Deficiency Disorder’. Kids are not getting the exposure to the great outdoors that they so greatly need.
Nature Deficiency Disorder has become a prominent issue among American children. They are spending more time inside than ever before, not receiving adequate time immersed in nature. Gone are the days of children riding bikes around town, playing made-up games at recess, or laying in a field watching the clouds.
How could something like this be damaging kid’s development? Free-play outside helps expand kids’ cognitive and social abilities. Aspects such as self-esteem, problem solving, confidence, and independence all are increased through experiencing the outdoors.
Cutting recess and environmental programs in schools is supposed to have a positive influence on test scores, allowing for more learning time in the classroom. However, according to studies by the California Student Assessment Project students understanding of science when they participated in outdoor education programs. They showed that students’ who participated in environmental programs did better on standardized tests in reading, math, spelling, and language.
Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, interviewed a plethora of children. One boy told him that “I like to play indoors better, ‘cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are.” If that isn’t a red flag to the future of children, what else could be? Getting kids away from the electrical outlets is in their best interest.
Unstructured, free play outside has been shown to significantly advance kids cognitive, social, and emotional capabilities. Everything from stress reduction and self-awareness to problem solving and reduced aggression is positively affected. Now some may say that hours kids put into playing sports should have the same effects, but free play offers something different.
Away from the control of adults, kids have the opportunity to be creative and make up their own games. They also have to deal with the issues and conflicts that arise without adult intervention. This helps them to be better prepared for the future and common conflict resolution issues that come from everyday life.
Kids are spending too much time inside. For their own health they need to get outside. In a society that is so caught up in achieving excellence, why are we not helping children to gain the experiences that will help them attain greater success in their lives?
California Student Assessment-
http://www.seer.org/pages/csap.pdf
Last Child in the Woods- Richard Louv
1 comment:
I believe that engaging in outdoors activities is an important aspect in a child's life growing up. It not only allows a person to gain respect for the environment but also to become comfortable with yourself. I rode many atv's and dirtbikes when I grew up. When I turned 16, driving a vehicle was simple!
Exercise needs to be incorporated in a child's life and playing in the woods or on a stream bank can give a child the exercise they need. I think it will be hard to get children to enjoy the outdoors in present day America because playing inside near an electrical outlet is much easier.
Kyle Karnas
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