Getting into nature
The term Nature Deficit Disorder was first coined by Richard Louv in his book Last Child in the Woods.
11 December 2009
Nature Deficit Disorder is not a medical condition, rather it refers to the problems that children can encounter from a lack of engagement in the natural environment. These can include but not limited to, anxiety, obesity and issues relating to attention.
Although Richard speaks from an American perspective, he informed attendees at the recent Active09 conference that it’s becoming a growing problem in the Australia and the United Kingdom.
Thankfully there are a number of easy solutions at hand to combat Nature Deficit Disorder and there as close as your backyard. For example, why not set up a small garden and plant some small fruits and vegetables like cherry tomatoes or herbs?
Alternatively you can set up a bird feeding station in the backyard and allow the local birdlife to come to you!
Nature Deficit Disorder
Nature Deficit Disorder is not a medical condition — it describes our lack of a relationship to the environment. It hurts our children, our families, our communities, and our environment. Luckily, the cure starts in our own backyards.
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