Nature deficit disorder

Nature Deficit Disorder, a term coined by Richard Louv in his 2005 book Last Child in the Woods, refers to the alleged trend[1] that children are spending less time outdoors,[2] resulting in a wide range of behavioral problems.[3][4] This disorder is not recognized in any of the medical manuals for mental disorders, such as the ICD-10[5] or the DSM-IV,[6] neither is it part of the proposed revision of this manual, the DSM-V.[7] Evidence was compiled and reviewed in 2009. [8]

Louv claims that causes for the phenomenon include parental fears, restricted access to natural areas, and the lure of the screen.[9] Recent research has drawn a further contrast between the declining number of National Park visits in the United States and increasing consumption of electronic media by children.[10]

Richard Louv spent ten years traveling around the USA reporting and speaking to parents and children, in both rural and urban areas, about their experiences in nature. He argues that sensationalist media coverage and paranoid parents have literally "scared children straight out of the woods and fields," while promoting a litigious culture of fear that favors "safe" regimented sports over imaginative play.

In recognising these trends, some people[11] argue that humans have an instinctive liking for nature—the biophilia hypothesis—and take steps to spend more time outdoors, for example in outdoor education, or by sending young children to forest kindergartens or forest schools. It is perhaps a coincidence that slow parenting advocates sending children into natural environments rather than keeping them indoors, as part of a hands-off approach.[12]

Nature is not only to be found in National Parks.[13] The chapter "Eden in a Vacant Lot" by Robert M. Pyle (page 305) emphasises the opportunity for exploration and fascination in small untended wildernesses, and rejoices in the 30,000 vacant lots in Detroit, arising due to down-town decay.

Contents

Causes

Effects

Organizations

The No Child Left Inside Coalition works to get children outside and actively learning. They hope to address the problem of Nature Deficit Disorder. They are now working on the No Child Left Inside Act, which would increase environmental education in schools. The coalition claims the problem of Nature Deficit Disorder could be helped by "igniting student's interest in the outdoors"[19] and encouraging them to explore the natural world in their own lives.

In Colombia, OpEPA (Organización para la Educación y Protección Ambiental - [4]) has been addressing the issue for over 10 years. OpEPA's mission is to reconnect children and youth to the Earth so they can act with environmental responsibility. OpEPA works by linking three levels of education: intellectual, experiencial and emotional/spiritual.

Further reading

References

  1. ^ For more children, less time for outdoor play: Busy schedules, less open space, more safety fears, and lure of the Web keep kids inside by Marilyn Gardner, The Christian Science Monitor, June 29, 2006
  2. ^ U.S. children and teens spend more time on academics by Diane Swanbrow, The University Record Online, The University of Michigan.
  3. ^ 10 Reasons Kids Need Fresh Air by Kevin Coyle, National Wildlife Magazine
  4. ^ Are your kids really spending enough time outdoors? Getting up close with nature opens a child's eyes to the wonders of the world, with a bounty of health benefits. by Tammie Burak, Canadian Living.
  5. ^ http://priory.com/psych/ICD.htm
  6. ^ http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/dsm4TRclassification.htm
  7. ^ http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/InfancyChildhoodAdolescence.aspx
  8. ^ http://www.childrenandnature.org/downloads/CNNEvidenceoftheDeficit.pdf
  9. ^ Stiffler, Lisa (January 6, 2007). "Parents worry about 'nature-deficit disorder' in kids". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/298708_nature06.html 
  10. ^ "Is There Anybody Out There?". Conservation 8 (2). April–June 2007. http://www.conbio.org/cip/article82nic.cfm 
  11. ^ Kellert, Stephen R. (ed.) (1993). The Biophilia Hypothesis. Island Press. ISBN 1-55963-147-3. 
  12. ^ Hodgkinson, Tom (2009). The Idle Parent: Why Less Means More When Raising Kids. Hamish Hamilton. pp. 233. ISBN 978-0241143735. http://idler.co.uk/news/the-idle-parent/. 
  13. ^ Kahn, Peter; Kellert, Stephen (2002). Children and nature: psychological, sociocultural, and evolutionary investigations. MIT Press. ISBN 0262112671. http://books.google.com/?id=RCjdKjI_qIcC&pg=PA153. 
  14. ^ a b c d Outside Agitators by Bill O'Driscoll, Pittsburgh City Paper
  15. ^ a b Last Child In The Woods Interview by Claus von Zastrow, Public School Insights
  16. ^ a b [1] National Environmental Education Foundation
  17. ^ [2] By Jim Barlow, News Bureau
  18. ^ [3] By Richard Louv, Orion Magazine
  19. ^ Nature Deficit Disorder, No Child Left Inside

External links