Nature Deficit Disorder?

[Mendel's Balls]

Interesting book that's sure to promote lively discussion.....http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=4665933

http://dir.salon.com/story/mwt/featu...ouv/index.html

[python kid]

I could never stay inside my house for a long period of time and not go outside.I'll begin to feel trapped,sort of like a phobia,Or an extreme case of boredom.When i was a little kid i used to cry and throw tantrums because i couldn't go outside.

[sidhe]

I totally agree with this scenario. I used to teach outdoor education in Ohio and California to 12-13 year olds. It was amazing how many kids started out "afraid" of nature and then ended up loving it after the week was over. I think ALL schools should have a mandatory "outdoor education" type thing for kids. It really makes me sad to see all the wooded areas, I would explore as a child, being turned into housing developments. We need to act now to save some "green" spaces. I lived in Vermont for 3 years too, and they have a certain ratio of "green" area required to be left alone for how ever many get destroyed. I hate to sound like a tree hugger, but I've been called worse LOL.

[daniel1983]

I just need to get out of the house sometimes too. I also enjoy the outdoors very much. Most is due to the fact that when I was a child, my family kinda lived in the woods.....no cable tv, no close neighbors, etc. All we really had was outdoor activities to do.

My father also took me hunting and fishing which kept me outdoors. I plan on doing the same with my children. I also plan to take my children on herping trips too.

IMHO....a child that has 'nature deficit disorder' is the direct result of their parents and their educators.

On a related note....

A friend of mine that I worked with in New Orleans told me a story that kind of made me sad and very thankful that I did not grow up in a city. While working in the city, he spotted 4-5 kids huddled over and poking at something on the street corner. He walked over to investigate only to find that the kids were scared to death of a turtle.....why?....because they did not know what it was! What kind of world do we live in were a child has never seen a live turtle before?