Get Yourselves and The Kids Outside More

I will ensure the kids get outside more and encourage independent play. “Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; it travels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart. If we are going to save environmentalism and the environment, we must also save an endangered indicator species: the child in nature.” ~ Richard Louv

In his 2005 book “Last Child in the Woods” Richard Louv defined what teachers, researchers, and physicians were seeing in many children as Nature-Deficit Disorder.

Children have recently become more disconnected from the natural world.
Among the reasons are the proliferation of electronics; poor urban planning; increased street traffic; diminished importance of the natural world in education; and parental fear magnified by news and entertainment media.

All this contributes to a diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, obesity, and higher rates of emotional and physical illnesses. We know how to reverse this trend. Studies show that for children and adults, exposure to nature will decrease stress and violent tendencies and is vital to healthy human development.

Research also suggests that nature-deficit weakens ecological literacy and stewardship of the natural world. We must ensure all children have equitable access to outdoor spaces where they can learn, play and grow. A knowing of nature is essential for future generations to imagine a world in which they can all live in harmony with nature.

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