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seeks to provide new funding for environ mental education. To find out more, USA WEEKEND Magazine recently assembled Louv, Erick son and USA WEEKEND’S Health Smart columnist, Dr. Tedd Mitchell, to discuss why parents need to get their children back in touch with the natural world around them. Richard, we’ve known for a while that kids don’t get outdoors enough. Why the clinical-sounding label for this problem? «B 4 4 sBB &BH asaKHfc £. HP . ■ ,9 Louv: “Nature-deficit disor der” captures people’s atten tion. We know it’s not a medi cal condition, but it helps to stamp a name on something serious that families are r struggling with. Why is it so important for parents to address this now? Louv: Because It- the situation is getting worse. | The Nature Con- M* servancy found , that kids under ; 13 now take part THE OUTSIDE ADVANTAGE Although scientific studies of the effects of nature on child development are still in their infancy, quite a few point to a distinctly positive role. Here's how: • Nature can be a stress reducer, a 2003 study published in Environment and Behavior concluded that green plants and vistas reduce stress among children in rural areas. The more natural the surroundings, the better: A greater degree of "greenery" around the home was linked to more significant stress reduction. • Nature can make kids more focused, university of Illinois research found that children with attention- in freestyle play outdoors for only a half-hour a week. Look, I’ll plead guilty to being nostalgic for my child hood, when I interacted with nature for hours each day. But there is now more documentation that the trend of decreased outdoor activity is growing and having a negative impact on children’s physical and mental health. Erickson: Obviously, when they are outdoors, children are more physi cally active than they would be in front of a TV. And, once they get out side, they can’t get enough explora tion, which is good for their minds. Tedd, does this disconnect from nature show up in patients you treat? Mitcheii: My practice is made up primarily of adult city dwellers, so I do see a disproportionate number whose only ex posure to nature is the Saturday morning trip to the golf course. In fact, many of my patients question whether or not they really need a tetanus booster. That’s because they are rarely outside! Kids are being pushed to excel inside and outside of the classroom. And parents often feel like kids need a reward after all that — often some stress-free “crash” time indoors. How can we squeeze in time for nature? Louv: We realize this is something many families deal with. But they can start by not perceiving an interaction with nature as just one more chore. Why can’t that be the reward for a stressful day? deficit disorder can focus more effectively after outdoor activities such as camping and fishing. Other studies have yielded similar results: Urban kids have shown increased cognitive ability when they have access to natural settings, and Swedish preschoolers who played in more natural settings suffered fewer attention lapses being distracted, interrupting, not listening than those who played in less natural areas. • Nature can enhance a child’s emotional and SOCial development If young children have regular opportunities for unstructured play, then they are likely to have a greater chance of getting along with others and being happier, healthier and smarter, report researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Teens also can benefit: A survey of participants in wilderness programs found that their interactions with nature resulted in enhanced self esteem, independence and initiative. To get kids outside, parents have to overcome their fears. In one study, more than four out of five moms cited crime and safety concerns as key reasons to keep their kids indoors. Yet by w * “Kids who play in natural areas those with bushes ; and trees have been shown to engage in more creative and cooperative play.” Richard Louv l. j outdoor play while keeping parents at ease. Nature centers, for example, often have open areas where kids can play and explore, while parents can sit and watch without hovering. The medical community has started to stress the importance of unstructured, self-directed play for healthy child development How does this relate to the back-to-nature movement? Erickson: I see the agendas as overlapping, but the outdoors movement has additional benefits. Un structured play, indoors or out, lets children initiate activity, develop problem-solving skills, use their imagi nation and negotiate with peers. The outdoors, espe- Continued on next page ► 2002, violent crimes against young people had fallen well below 1975 levels. So why do we still imagine all kinds of evil “out there”? Louv: That’s because of the in creased perception of violence. Any time something happens in the woods, it gets intense media coverage. Mitchell: It’s a shame. It used to be “Go outside and play until dinner time.” Now, it’s “Go grab a snack and play video games until dinnertime.” Erickson: Let’s not forget there are ways to incorporate unstructured USA WEEKEND • Nov. 16-18,2007 9