Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-deficit Disorder"I like to play indoors better 'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are," reports a fourth-grader. Never before in history have children been so plugged inÑand so out of touch with the natural world. In this groundbreaking new work, child advocacy expert Richard Louv directly links the lack of nature in the lives of today's wired generationÑhe calls it nature deficitÑto some of the most disturbing childhood trends, such as rises in obesity, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and depression. Some startling facts: By the 1990s the radius around the home where children were allowed to roam on their own had shrunk to a ninth of what it had been in 1970. Today, average eight-year-olds are better able to identify cartoon characters than native species, such as beetles and oak trees, in their own community. The rate at which doctors prescribe antidepressants to children has doubled in the last five years, and recent studies show that too much computer use spells trouble for the developing mind. Nature-deficit disorder is not a medical condition; it is a description of the human costs of alienation from nature. This alienation damages children and shapes adults, families, and communities. There are solutions, though, and they're right in our own backyards. Last child in the Woods is the first book to bring together cutting-edge research showing that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood developmentÑphysical, emotional, and spiritual. What's more, nature is a potent therapy for depression, obesity, and ADD. Environment-based education dramatically improves standardized test scores and grade point averages and develops skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and decision making. Even creativity is stimulated by childhood experiences in nature. Yet sending kids outside to play is increasingly difficult. Computers, television, and video games compete for their time, of course, but it's also our fears of traffic, strangers, even virus-carrying mosquitoesÑfears the media exploitÑthat keep children indoors. Meanwhile, schools assign more and more homework, and there is less and less access to natural areas. Parents have the power to ensure that their daughter or son will not be the "last child in the woods," and this book is the first step toward that nature-child reunion. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 1 |
THE NEW RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILDREN AND NATURE | 5 |
WHY THE YOUNG AND THE REST OF US NEED NATURE | 37 |
THE BEST OF INTENTIONS WHY JOHNNIE AND JEANNIE DONT PLAY OUTSIDE ANYMORE | 113 |
THE NATURECHILD REUNION | 161 |
THE JUNGLE BLACKBOARD | 201 |
WONDER LAND OPENING THE FOURTH FRONTIER | 235 |
Other editions - View all
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-deficit Disorder Richard Louv Limited preview - 2005 |
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder Richard Louv Limited preview - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
according activities adults American animals areas asked Association attention become believe better bird boys build California called camping canyon Center child childhood classroom connection considered create creative culture decades described early encourage environment environmental example experience farm fear feel field fishing frontier future garden girls green groups growing human imagination important increased kids land landscape less lives look mountains move movement nature neighborhood never offer organizations outdoor parents parks percent physical planning plants play Press programs protect recent reported says sense social space species spend suggests teach teachers things tree University urban walk watch wild wildlife wonder woods writes York young