A must-read for parents, teachers, grandparents, aunts and uncles is Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.
The book, published in 2006, resulted in a national movement to help get more children involved and immersed in the outdoors. Last Child in the Woods demonstrates the incredible divide between children and the outdoors and how it relates to rising trends in childhood obesity, attention disorders, and depression. Louv’s research shows direct links between spending time outdoors in nature and improving children’s emotional and physical health. Unstructured play in the outdoors truly helps children further develop reasoning skills, creativity, and improves their confidence. We’ve also learned that adults who are passionate about the outdoors were exposed to the outdoors between the ages of 5 and 18. Playing outside is a critical component to understanding and developing an appreciation for nature. Without that connection, we’re not only losing outdoor enthusiasts, but future stewards.
