Editor - Jan Weaver

415 Tucker Hall, MU 65211

Nature Deficit Disorder by Jan Weaver

In his recent book, Last Child in the Woods (2005), Richard Louv describes a new syndrome that has been affecting kids since the mid-century: Nature Deficit Disorder. Because of changes in American society, our kids are not getting outside enough and there are serious costs to their physical, intellectual, emotional and even spiritual development. The book has gained a lot of attention among those who teach about the outdoors, animals, plants, nature and the environment. But concerns about Nature Deficit Disorder should not be limited to those folks. If you are starting to worry about the impacts of the 21st century lifestyle on children - obesity, lack of initiative, disappearance of creativity, social isolation, etc. and if you want some ideas of what to do about it, you should read this book. The summary below outlines the main sections and chapters of the book, just to get you started.

Section 1. Third Frontier

The book begins with an introduction to America's Frontiers. The first was the settling of the nation, formally closed in 1893 by historian Frederick Turner. The second frontier romanticized the pioneers of the first, but closed in 1993 when the Census Bureau stopped counting farmers. We are in the third frontier, characterized by: severance from food's origins; blurring of the line between humans and machines; intellectualization of our relationship with animals; creation of synthetic nature experiences; and invasion of suburbs by wildlife.

Section 2. Why Kids Need Nature

1. Body - Kids need self activated autonomous play to develop the body/brain connection. Unstructured time in nature provides that stimulation as kids climb trees, explore creeks, skip stones, build forts.

2. Mind - Nature stimulates observation, and then because they need to know which trees are good for climbing, which stones are good for skipping, and which logs good for forts, kids begin categorizing and pattern finding - higher order thinking skills.

3. Creativity - The degree of inventiveness and creativity stimulated in children is directly proportional to the loose parts available for them to play with, and nature is the absolute biggest box of loose parts. (Not only that, nature is scalable, so that a two year old can move seamlessly from acorns to seedlings to trees to forests as she grows in comprehension and understanding)

4. Restoration - Most of the things we do require voluntary attention, where we have to keep reminding ourselves to pay attention to reading a report, working problems, listening to lectures, following directions, etc. This is really exhausting, for kids as well as adults. Nature, on the other hand, demands involuntary attention because of its fascination. We don't have to work at it. It allows us to give voluntary attention a rest, it refreshes and restores us. As a result, workers, inmates, patients and kids benefit from being in and around nature. Research shows: less frustration, more enthusiasm in office workers who have a view of nature; improved performance on fatiguing tests when people take a nature break; 24% improvement in mental health measures in prison inmates who can see nature from their cells; faster recovery after surgery for patients with a view of nature; reduced symptoms in ADD kids who get to play outside in a natural setting; and higher self worth ratings and 2x the friends in kids who get to play outside.

Section 3. Why Aren't Kids Outside?

1. Time - More families rely on two incomes, and both parents are working longer hours. As a result, kids engage in more structured activities and more activities that are indoors (easier to structure the time)

2. Commercialization of Play - Moving from pick up games to organized sports has been a mixed blessing. While more kids may be attending more games, the amount of time actually spent running, jumping, catching and kicking for the average kid may be down, especially if the team's focus is on winning. Another problem is that adults are making and enforcing the rules and schedules, so that kids don't get the practice in negotiating social conflict or playing times that they once got when getting together on their own.

3. Loss of Play Space - With the rise of the suburbs, there are fewer vacant lots within walking distance and more manicured back yards. Add concerns about liability and lawsuits, and there are just fewer places for kids to play outside.

4. Fear - The relentless media focus on child abduction has increased generalized fear of leaving kids unsupervised, there is more and faster car traffic through neighborhoods so riding bikes and crossing streets really is riskier, and then if you add in cougars, mosquitoes and ticks, parents are really anxious about letting children play in the neighborhood without constant supervision, and with the time squeeze, parents are just not available to provide that supervision.

5. Education - No one likes bad news, and kids are no different. Education that focuses on the damage humans do to nature, especially with children younger than Jr. High, makes kids depressed and passive, inspiring ecophobia or fear of nature. (It is bad practice to focus on a problem without providing doable solutions - so no telling five year olds that global warming is going to wipe out the penguins!). A lot of curricula ignores place, focusing on learning about rain forests and coral reefs instead of ensuring kids know the species and habitats of their own communities. The preoccupation with math and reading in the abstract, without relation to content, results in a focus on made-up stuff. This is really vexing, because there are so many interesting stories and math problems that involve local nature and history. Silicon faith is a myopic focus on the ability of technology to save education. Like the preoccupation with math and reading in the abstract, there is way too much attention being paid to the tools without applying them to real life issues. Finally, with the shift in biological sciences towards molecular biology and genetics, natural history courses are disappearing. College students end up knowing a lot about gene expression, but don't grasp the concept that water flows downhill.

Sections 4-5-6-7. What We Can Do About It? The Fourth Frontier

Families are the first front. Parents have to be enthusiastic about getting kids outside and stop worrying about getting it right. The kids, even two year olds, will be able to figure out what to do once they get turned loose in nature. Allow the kids to be bored so that their imaginations can start working. Manage the hazards so that kids can develop their own judgement about what is safe and what is dangerous so that they can be safe once you are gone. Model moral behavior - rescue turtles from the road, pick up litter, collect and scatter seeds of native plants, show concern for nature and action to preserve and restore it.

Schools and camps are next. Incorporate nature play into schools on a regular basis. Paradoxically, taking some time away from voluntary attention on math and reading and letting kids interact physically with real things can help with understanding. Add more real world learning - use the local environment to teach social studies, language, math - this has been shown to improve scores in a variety of subjects. Ideas include: the square kilometer (or mile) around your school, adopting a space, trout in the classroom, square foot gardening, schoolyard habitat (National Wildlife Federation), Projects WET, WILD, Learning Tree, butterfly gardens, bird baths, trails, streams, ponds, plants for picking, dirt to dig in. Higher education should get natural history back into the curriculum. And camps should get back in the nature business, instead of being in the computer, art, music, or sports business.

Cities should rewild themselves with forests, discovery gardens and adventure play grounds where kids can dig and climb, and design for people instead of cars, using new urbanism, clustered housing and local service areas to guide development.

Religion has to reconnect to nature, separating concerns about other liberal social agendas (gay rights, abortion etc.) from the responsibility to care for creation because it is the creation.

Want more information? google Nature Deficit Disorder - there's plenty of stuff out there!

Special Events/Programs/Classes/Talks

CONSERVATION LOBBY DAY: Wednesday April 4, 10 am Jefferson City Capitol Building, hearing room 2: Easy Connect Act (allows generators of electricity to sell power back to utility), CAFO standards, bill tracking on www.movotesconservation.org.

EXPLORING THE VISION WORKSHOP: Wednesday April 4, 6-8 pm Lela Raney Wood Hall, Stephens College, 6 N. College Avenue. Review the plan mid-point, rate the goals & strategies of the different visioning groups, visit with folks doing the visioning

WILDFLOWER WALKS: Wednesdays through May 16, 5:30 pm, Devil's Icebox, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

ARROW ROCK MISSOURI RIVER CLEAN UP: Saturday April 7, 9:00 am, Jameson Island Unit of the Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. For more information contact friends@friendsofbigmuddy.org or visit http://www.friendsofbigmuddy.org/

1st ANNUAL STUDENT ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE: Monday April 9 - Saturday April 14, Washington University, St. Louis. Contact apbingha@artsci.wustl.edu.

BONNE FEMME WATERSHED PROJECT PRESENTATION: Tuesday April 10, Wednesday April 18, Monday April 23, 7 - 9 pm at Little Bonne Femme Baptist Church. Presentation of the watershed plan developed by the stakeholder group with policy recommendations for local governments to adopt. Plan also available at http://cavewatershed.org/

BIKE FEST: Tuesday April 10 and Wednesday April 11, MU Campus. Want to help plan? email amsh58@mizzou.edu

NATIVE PLANT SALE: Saturday April 14, 9 - 3, Bradford Farm. Workshops, native plant producers, advice! East on WW, 4968 Rangeline Rd. Directions at http://aes.missouri.edu/bradford/bfdir.stm

CLEAN UP COLUMBIA: Saturday April 14. Preregistration required for clean up supplies and lunch. Lunch at noon at Twin Lakes Recreation Area. To register go to http://www.gocolumbiamo.com and follow links to the event.

STEP IT UP: Saturday April 14. National Day of Climate Action. Cut Carbon by 80% by 2050. Gather in spirit with other Americans around the country to call for action on climate change. For information on local planning, contact mntwelch@yahoo.com

GLASGOW MISSOURI RIVER CLEAN UP: Saturday April 14, Lisbon Bottoms Unit of the Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. For more information contact friends@friendsofbigmuddy.org or visit http://www.friendsofbigmuddy.org/

ENVIRONMENTAL CAREER FAIR: Friday April 20, noon to 6 pm, Truman State Office Building, Jefferson City. Visit with agencies and businesses seeking applicant for environmental jobs. Contact Jim Lubbers at jim.lubbers@dnr.mo.gov

JAMESON ISLAND GUIDED TOURS: Saturday April 21, 10 am, 1:30 pm and 3 pm. Guided tours of the Lewis and Clark Trail of Discovery with Friends of Arrow Rock. Contact friends@friendsofbigmuddy.org or visit http://www.friendsofbigmuddy.org/

WILDFLOWER WALK: Saturday April 21, 1 - 3 pm, Devil's Icebox Parking Lot, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

COLUMBIA EARTH DAY FESTIVAL: Sunday April 22 Noon to 7 pm, Peace Park and Downtown. Rain Date April 29. This year - Eco Avenue will provide practical advice for people interested in life-style changes in diet, transportation, home and garden, West Village will feature practices for strengthening a spiritual connection to nature, the Kid's Area will have loads of hands on actitivities to introduce kids and parents to the exploration of nature and the Peace Park stage will host environmentally themed radio plays in addition to a great line up of local music talent. Booth Registration now open $10 for non-profits not taking money, $20 for non-profits taking money, $40 for artisans and craftpeople, $50 for businesses. Pick up a form at the Peace Nook, 804C East Broadway, for more information visit http://www.columbiaearthday.org. or email mail@midmopeaceworks.org. NOTE: forms must be dropped off or mailed in with fees. No reservations accepted over the phone or by email.

PHOTOGRAPHING BIRDS: Tuesday April 24, 7 pm Unitarian Universalist Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd. Photographer Jim Rathert will cover the basics of photographing birds in the wild.

WILD HAVEN BIOBLITZ: Saturday May 12 to Sunday May 13. Looking for people to help especially with insects, mammals, birds, amphibians and fungi, but all naturalists are welcome. Go to http://columbia-audubon.missouri.org/ for information on Wild Haven. Contact vanndawn@gmail.com if you can help

Organization Meetings and Contact Information

AUDUBON SOCIETY: 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed 7:30 pm, Unitarian Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd.

BOONE COUNTY SMART GROWTH COALITION: http://smartgrowth.missouri.org/, 1st Weds 7:15 Boone Co Govt Ctr.

CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING: 875-0539 or http://peaceworks.missouri.org/

CHOUTEAU GROTTO: http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm, The Casteel Building, 1518 Business Loop 70 East

COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE: 882-7463 or email hendricksonm@missouri.edu for information.

COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOL. PROGRAMS: 874-6271 or http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/#PW

CITIZENS WATERSHED COMMITTEE: (573) 526-8916, Third Tuesdays, 6:30 pm, Daniel Boone Bldg

COMMUNITY GARDEN COALITION: 875-5995 or cgardenc@yahoo.com or http://cgc.missouri.org

ENV EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/teacher/workshops/

FRIENDS OF BIG MUDDY: friends@friendsofbigmuddy.org or www.friendsofbigmuddy.org

FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE M. S. P.: 815-9255 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org/ Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.

GREENBELT LAND TRUST OF MID-MISSOURI: 442-4789, greenbelt.land.trust @gmail.com or http://greenbelt.missouri.org

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE: 815-9836, drop off or buy gently used doors, windows, hardware, tools, cabinets, appliances, unopened paint, fixtures - Mon to Fri 8:30 to 3:30, Saturday 8:00 to 1:00 pm, 1906 Monroe St. Columbia

MISSOURI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: www.meea.org

MO NATIVE PLANT SOC.: http://columbianativeplants.missouri.org/, 2nd Mon, odd months, 7 p.m., UU Church, 2615 Shepard

MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK: 573-256-2602 or www.moriver.org or moriver@coin.org

PEDNET COALITION: email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org

RIVER RELIEF: http://www.riverrelief.org/

ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: 449-7402 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org

SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION: (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 or www.mostreamteam.org

SIERRA CLUB: 875-2916 or http://sierra.osage.missouri.org Meet 3rd Tuesdays 7:30 pm Hillel Foundation, 1107 University Ave

WILD ONES: 573 882-9909, ext 3257 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com, http://wildones.missouri.org Meetings 2nd Saturdays.

Return to News

Return to Environmental Studies Home Page