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 Louv’s message is one of hope. He believes that civilization is on the brink of change, and that it can be a change for the better. The first step in that change, as outlined in Louv’s book, Last Child in the Woods, is to raise children who play outside in natural settings. Studies have shown lower incidences of ADD, violence and aggression, and higher intelligence and creativity in children who play in grass and dirt and trees as opposed to those who play on asphalt and man-made structures.
Louv points out that the media magnifies the risk of stranger danger – abductions and kidnappings – to the point that parents are petrified to let their children leave their sight. Homeowners associations outlaw tree houses and wild areas in their pursuit of the perfect neighborhood. Most children would not be able to find a natural outside play area in their neighborhood, and if they could, most parents would never let them play there.
Without unsupervised time spent in nature, Louv argues that children miss out on important imaginative play that promotes problem-solving and creativity. With no time spent fishing, hiking or just poking around in nature, children’s sense of wonder is stifled. “All spiritual life begins with a sense of wonder,” Louv maintains.
Louv sees many ways we can keep our children and ourselves connected to nature. He looks to trends of green urbanization, and building designers who consider ways to leave a light footprint on the planet. He believes high-performance buildings designed with nature as a part of the plan are the wave of the future. He believes there is a path open to us that will bring future generations a better life than any of us have ever had. To make it happen, we will all need to work together.
Local event co-sponsors, The Phoenix Zoo and Girl Scouts of Arizona Cactus Pine Council, were joined by ten other organizations including Liberty Wildlife, The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, Desert Botanical Garden, Arizona Game and Fish, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center, Audubon Arizona, Arizona Highways, REI, Bureau of Land Management, and Rhino Staging and Event Solutions. Each group presented booths with examples of activities, information, and efforts underway to “Leave no child inside.”
Beyond these good examples of what is already being done locally, there are national movements afoot that support and explore more ways to keep the momentum going. One example is The Children and Nature Network, www.cnaturenet.org. This Web site contains a wealth of information on what is being done across the nation. It reveals a “tantalizing hint of the possible.” Scientific reports detail the effects of nature vs. no nature on our children, with research on current issues like attention deficit disorder, obesity, and depression.
The site mirrors Louv’s own thoughts and the thoughts of others about the ancient bond between children and nature. It is their belief that this bond has been broken – that there is a need for a sense of wonder and that this is an essential source of spiritual growth – ultimately essential to a healthy psychological, physical and spiritual development.
Take a minute. Contemplate on your own experience in nature as a child…how it helped instill a sense of place. Think what you can do now to help the “Leave no child inside” movement. What part can you play to help reconnect children today to the possibilities offered with a renewed sense of wonder and awe. Nature holds the key to our wholesome future.
Get on board….leave no child inside!
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