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View Full Version : "Nature deficit disorder" WDYT??


battlecrumpet
09-07-2009, 19:21
Never heard about this before but sounds interesting.
“Researchers have discovered that children as young as five showed a significant reduction in the symptoms of attention-deficit disorder when they engaged with Nature. Schools that use outdoor classrooms and other methods of direct-experience learning are proven to produce students with enhanced skills in problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making. Students are also more engaged in the classroom and more open to conflict resolution.”

More info:
Radio interview with Richard Louv (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4665933) who apparently coined the concept.
Wikipedia on Nature Deficit Disorder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_deficit_disorder)

What do you think??
canberramomma
10-07-2009, 14:11
Makes sense that a relationship with the natural world will benefit people with behavioural issues far greater than imposing an artificial environment on them.

Interesting concept, but one that is evident in the use of animals to calm Autistic and OCD children.

Thanks for the link!:)
Teley
11-07-2009, 03:28
It's ture and that was my point in the helicopter parents thread! This would have done so much better in general chat though bc.
MordecaiAliVanAllenO'Shea
16-07-2009, 16:15
Dh and I always say that kids back in the cave man days must have had no behavior issues being outdoors most of the time. When we take our kids to the national park/beach etc and they can just run free we never have any issues with behaviour because we hardly need to impose any restrictions - nothing to break, no worries about noise levels, plenty of nature to go around so no worries about sharing. I think kids and even adults just weren't made to spend all day in an artificial environment.

There was a lady called Charlotte Manson who started a whole educational approach based on children's need to spend time outdoors, in all weather, discovering and learning through their own experiences with nature. There's a whole lot more to her approach but that is an important part of it.