All Grown up... Sort of.

A draft I found from last July.. How has a whole year passed??

Will at lunch: "Mommy, I'm all growed up!"
Me: "Really?"
Will: "Look at me Mommy! I'm not a preschooler anymore."
Me: "Huh. Then what are you?"
Will: "I'm a boy."
Me: "Wow! When did you grow up?"
Will: "Last night. When I was sleepin'."

Tomorrow is Will's 3rd birthday!!

Nature Deficit Disorder

Our children are suffering. I look outside and instead of seeing children climbing trees, exploring nature, and discovering, I see empty lawns. In fact, it has become so serious that there is a disorder that refers to this epidemic. Here are some facts about Nature Deficit Disorder...

A lack of routine contact with nature may result in stunted academic and developmental growth. This unwanted side-effect of the electronic age is called Nature Deficit Disorder (NDD). As Richard Louv presents in his book, Last Child In The Woods, the agrarian, nature-oriented existence hard-wired into human brains isn’t quite ready for the overstimulating environment we’ve carved out for ourselves. Some children adapt. Those who don’t develop the symptoms of NDD, which include attention problems, obesity, anxiety, and depression.

Nature-deficit disorder is not a medical condition; it is a description of the human costs of alienation from nature. This alienation damages children and shapes adults, families, and communities. There are solutions, though, and they’re right in our own backyards.

How do we know Nature Deficit Disorder is a problem in today's society?

Our children may be the first generation at risk of having a shorter lifespan than their parents.

• Sedentary lifestyle and physical inactivity have contributed greatly to the numerous health problems plaguing today’s children.
• Chronic conditions such as childhood obesity, asthma, and attention-deficit disorder have all increased over the past few decades.
• Approximately 16% of US children (~ 9 million) aged 6-19 are overweight or obese.
• Childhood obesity has doubled over the past 30 years for preschoolers and adolescents and more than tripled for children aged 6-11.
• These chronic conditions may lead to pulmonary, cardiovascular, and mental health problems in adulthood.
• Outdoor activity in the natural environment has taken a back seat to television, video games, the computer, and a demanding schoolwork and extracurricular schedule.
• Today’s youth are losing the contact with the natural environment that is potentially beneficial for their health and well-being.

Source: National Environmental Education Foundation

You don't need to climb a mountain to combat this problem, just go outside and play! Let your kids play in the yard, take them on walks, take them to parks. Just let them explore! :)