Face it Climate Change: Children Thrive in Nature
Have you ever stepped outside in nature and instantly felt better and more at ease? That is the power that nature holds. We are surrounded by nature, we have evolved from nature, and we rely on nature. However, recently, due to the technological advancements that have overcome and helped our society progress, we have paid less attention to the benefits provided by the great outdoors. Instead of having children play outside or in the park, we hand them the TV remote or buy them a new iPad for Christmas. By making less effort to connect the youth with nature, we are depriving them of vital components of nature that would contribute to their overall growth, mentally and physically.
In the book, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv states, “Nature-deficit disorder describes the human costs of alienation from nature, among them: diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, and higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses. The disorder can be detected in individuals, families, and communities.” (34) I agree with Louv’s concept of Nature-Deficit Disorder because I believe that I have witnessed Nature-Deficit Disorder in my own life, because Richard Louv provides overwhelming amounts of concrete data, in Last Child in the Woods, to prove that this phenomenon is present in our society today, and due to Danielle Cohen also supporting Louv’s stance on Nature-Deficit Disorder in her article, “Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature”. In the book, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv states that children today are spending less time in nature despite the fact that being connected with nature is vital for growth, creativity, and focus. Furthermore, the article, “I’m a Mom and a Climate Change Activist: Here’s How I decrease My Family’s Carbon Footprint” writer Heather McTeer Toney, explains how getting the youth more involved with nature can help both them and our environment. Danielle Cohen emphasizes in her article, “Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature” that being in nature helps children feel less stressed and more confident. Personally, I have also reaped the benefits of being surrounded by nature and have witnessed its impact on the mental growth of my little cousins. One might say that climate change is drastically changing our environments and is quite literally destroying natural habitats and negatively impacting children that are exposed, however, I believe that for most situations, children being exposed to nature is beneficial for their growth. In most scenarios, children can still go out and enjoy nature that has not been drastically or negatively impacted by climate change yet.
For starters, Louv provides abundant amounts of data, through the experiment and research that he conducted, to further prove his concept of the Nature Deficit Disorder. Louv states, “Nonetheless, a growing body of evidence indicates that direct exposure to nature is essential for physical and emotional health. For example, new studies suggest that exposure to nature may reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and that it can improve all children’s cognitive abilities and resistance to negative stress and depression.” (34) This statement shows that nature can be a medically beneficial treatment to children that struggle with disorders or even mental illnesses. Louv even adds quotes from parents of children who suffer from such illnesses, as a way to further prove his point with real life evidence, “‘My son is still on Ritalin, but he’s so much calmer in the outdoors that we’re seriously considering moving to the mountains,” one mother says.”…”There’s just something calming to him about being outside in nature.’” (101) Not only is nature proving to help these children be at ease but it also helps them focus more. “…green spaces may enable children to think more clearly and cope more effectively with life stress…” (103) Therefore, this data that Louv provided has convinced me that lack of exposure to nature can result in physical and emotional illnesses because there is data that proves as such.
Throughout the book, Last Child in the Woods, author Richard Louv discuss how it is important for children to be connected with nature as it helps them grow, be more self-confident, and can help relieve stress. First Richard Louv states in his book, Last Child in the Woods, being in nature helps children be more creative, “‘Natural spaces and materials stimulate children’s limitless imaginations and serve as the medium of inventiveness and creativity observable in almost any group of children playing in a natural setting,” says Moore.” (86) Through quotes, such as these, from credible individuals, Louv is further solidifying his point that nature can stimulate heightened levels of creativity in children by backing up his claims with evidence. Furthermore, Louv uses legitimate studies and research done to show the connections between creativity and the great outdoors as he states, “One of these studies found that a more natural schoolyard encouraged more fantasy and make-believe play in particular, which provided ways for boys and girls to play together in egalitarian ways; another reported that children showed a greater sense of wonder.” (87) Additionally, Louv states that being more connected can even help children be more safe in other aspects of their life. “Children with generous exposure to nature, those who learn to see the world directly, may be more likely to develop the psychological survival skills that will help them detect real danger, and they are therefore less likely to seek out phony danger later in life.” (178) Lastly, Louv also reports that exposure to nature can boost children’s self image, “…and my notebooks offer anecdotal evidence that nature does build self-confidence in children.” (178) After seeing all of these conclusions that Richard Louv made and backed up with overwhelming amounts of evidence from experts, studies, and accounts from parents and children, it is hard to believe that his conclusions would not apply to the world today.
Furthermore, by allowing the youth to be more exposed and connected with nature, we are not only benefiting them but we are also benefiting our environment. The more connected the youth are with the nature, the more effort and care they will contribute to ensure that our environment is thriving. In the article, “I’m a Mom and a Climate Change Activist: Here’s How I decrease My Family’s Carbon Footprint” writer Heather McTeer Toney explains how as a climate change activist she has got her family involved in caring for the environment and the impact that this had. She states how her stepdaughter is reducing her carbon footprint and helping her son do the same, “Today she’s 13 and we have containers and recycle regularly. And when our son came along, she began showing him where to put the recyclables. Teach children early and they will not only maintain the lesson, they’ll show each other.” By exposing the youth to nature, and ensuring that they are not suffering from Louvs idea of Nature Deficit Disorder, we are also making the environment a better place and raising more aware and conscious citizens. Toney further states the simplicity of getting the youth involved with the environment, “Listen, if kids can figure out how to use your contact lens fluid and good dishware for slime, they can surely plant a flower or a vegetable. Find a small space and let them plant something, preferably something edible. Growing food and herbs is a great way to teach sustainability and even save a few dollars at the grocery store.”
Additionally, exposing children to nature does not only help them learn responsibility and gets them moving, but it also helps build their confidence, promotes creativity, and reduces stress and fatigue. According to the article, “Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature” writer Danielle Cohen states that “Recent studies have exposed the benefit-even necessity- of spending time outdoors, both for kids and adults.” Cohen states a few reasons why nature is beneficial for children and their growth, “It builds confidence…It promotes creativity and imagination…They can think more freely, design their own activities, and approach the world in inventive ways.” Furthermore, Cohen even discusses the Attention Restoration Theory that states, “urban environments require what’s called directed attention, which forces us to ignore distractions and exhaust our brains. In natural environments, we practice an effortless type of attention known as soft fascination that creates feelings of pleasure, not fatigue.” Both of these articles list the many benefits that are gained when children spend additional time in the outdoors and away from the technology that consumes their time indoors.
Furthermore, I agree with Louv’s concept of Nature Deficit Disorder because I feel that I have seen the symptoms of it in my own life. Whenever I spend a majority of my time indoors, for a consistent period of time, I tend to feel more physically and mentally drained. Additionally, I am more easily irritated. However, when I take a moment to just go outside and sit in nature, without any other distractions, I automatically feel more healthy and calm. I am sure this nature deficit disorder is the reason why the whole saying, “getting fresh air” came from. Getting fresh air and going outdoors, into nature, is beneficial for our health.
On the contrary, one might say that nature is bringing stress to children as stated in the “Climate Change Poses Mental Health Risks to Children and Teens” article by Kathiann Kowalski, “…climate change can be bad for mental health as well. And children and teens are especially at risk, psychologists now report.” However these children and teens mental health is at risk because we are not taking enough action, as a society, to fight climate change. Their mental health being at risk is not nature’s fault, but is our fault, as humans, for not taking significant action to counter this issue. Therefore, by exposing our children to nature, as Louv advised, in his book, will not harm the youth but will help them. By being able to enjoy the last intact parts of nature, their stress will reduce, they will be better able to focus, have increased self-confidence, and even be better equipped to deal with dangers in the real world. In most scenarios, children can go out and enjoy nature that has not been drastically or negatively impacted by climate change yet. Obviously, areas in nature that have been impacted by climate change, for example the California wildfires, would not be beneficial towards the growth of our youth or help them feel connected to nature more. However, being able to experience and connect with parts of nature that is still intact can help children boost their self esteem, relieve their anxiety, and help them focus. Therefore, while nature is being negatively impacted by climate change, we are still fortunate enough to be able to enjoy nature, in certain parts of the world. Evidently, climate change is a real and very pressing issue that exists today and impacts the day to day lives of all individuals. Natural environments have been destroyed and has caused massive amounts of stress and depression in many individuals: scientists, parents and children. However, climate change is not the fault of nature, therefore, it is not valid to assume that due to the fact that climate change is altering our environment, nature can no longer be beneficial. It is true that certain aspects of nature have been altered forever and cannot be recovered. However, there are still many natural spots such as: woods, national parks, lakes, and even your local backyards that consist of nature that has not been significantly altered by climate change. Our youth can still go out and connect with nature in habitats that are still intact and have not been as negatively impacted by climate change. Climate change being present does not take away the benefits of enjoying nature, it just makes it more difficult to access nature. Therefore, I do not believe that Louv’s conclusions are invalidated by the looming climate crisis.
Overall, Louv’s conclusion in Last Child in the Woods, supported by a significant amount of data, proves that nature does have a positive impact on children’s growth and can help spur connections that were not as prevalent before. Louv’s analysis throughout his book explains why Nature-Deficit Disorder is a real and prevalent issue, that stunts the growth of children by depriving them from the benefits of nature that they would experience if they were more connected with it. Louv provides data from credible research to support the claims that he is making about natures positive impact. I also agree with Louv’s analysis because I have witnessed nature positive impact on individuals in my own life. I have seen nature help everyone feel more relaxed and calm. Furthermore, in the article, “I’m a Mom and a Climate Change Activist: Here’s How I decrease My Family’s Carbon Footprint” writer Heather McTeer Toney also expresses that in today’s climate stressed world it is vital for children to be more involved and connected with nature, for it will cause them to be more aware and take responsibility to reduce their carbon footprint. Toney states that nature is beneficial to all, however, nature can also benefit if children are more connected and take steps towards being more environmentally friendly. Today’s youth is tomorrow’s future and I believe that it is beyond vital to get them more concerned and focused on being more environmentally friendly and caring for nature if we want to see any positive change in our current climate change issue. Additionally, in the article, “Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature” writer Danielle Cohen, emphasizes on the importance of children to be connected with nature as it helps them grow, be more self-confident, and can help relieve stress. Despite the fact, that climate change is drastically changing our environments and is quite literally destroying natural habitats, I believe that for most situations, children being exposed to nature is beneficial for their growth. In most scenarios, children can go out and enjoy nature that has not been drastically or negatively impacted by climate change yet. Being able to experience and connect with parts of nature that is still intact can help children grow mentally. Therefore, while nature is being negatively impacted by climate change, we are still fortunate enough to be able to enjoy nature, in certain parts of the world. Similar to Louv, Cohen discusses the Nature-Deficit Disorder in her article and provides evidence that supports the fact that nature allows children to be more creative, responsible, focused, confident, and less stressed and tired. Without nature we, as a species, would have no chance to survive. We rely on many aspects of nature to provide us with oxygen, wood, and other key sources that are vital to our survival. Therefore, if you spend less and less time connecting with the environment that helps you live, grow, and flourish, it is obvious that there will be negative effects, especially on children, who are still developing in these early ages of their life. As Richard Louv described in Last Child in the Woods, “In nature, a child finds freedom, fantasy, and privacy: a place distant from the adult world, a separate peace.” (7) Personally, I will make more of an effort to stay connected with nature and ensure that the children in my life are also getting to grow by enjoying the beauty of the great outdoors.
