Is Nature Deficit Disorder Real?

By Tobin Hack, Plenty magazine

Is there concrete evidence for the health benefits of childhood nature play? Some parents, particularly those who live in an urban setting, worry that they don’t get their kids outside often enough. Outdoor play has been linked to better health, but what specifically are the benefits? The $500 million No Child Left Inside Act (H.R. 3036, sponsored by Rep. John Sarbanes and Sen. Jack Reed) was passed by the House in September 2008 and might actually be up for Senate scrutiny in early 2009 if all goes well. In anticipation, the No Child Left Inside (NCLI) coalition has already drafted an open letter to the President-elect, urging him to throw his weight behind the bill. According to a government press release, “The legislation would improve existing environmental education programs by providing states with resources to train teachers, develop research-based programs and create environmental literacy plans to ensure that students understand the role of the environment as a natural resource.” In other words, it would get kids outside and instill in them a bit of awe and respect for the natural world. But the real authority when it comes to nature play and outdoor education is Richard Louv—Audubon Medal winner, author of 2005 bestseller Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, and founder of the Children & Nature Network. Having literally written the book on the importance of nature play, Louv had this to say about its psychological and physical health benefits: “Children benefit greatly from unstructured play, particularly make-believe play. And kids are far more creative in natural play spaces than on the typical flat playground, whether it’s made of concrete or turf. They are far more likely to invent their own games in natural places. And in schools that have outdoor classrooms kids tend to do better across the board from social studies to standardized testing.
The state of Iowa has initiated the "Iowa Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights" to come up with ideas on getting children outdoors into nature. Many other states are following suite. We at The Natural Gait where nature abounds are looking at ways to encourage families to come to The Natural Gait and take nature hikes on our trails. Enjoy the many birds that live there along with the abundance of other wildlife.