NATURE-DEFICIT IN CHILDREN?

Could there be such a thing as Nature-Deficit Disorder in our children? According to some studies children are spending 4 to 7 MINUTES in a structured outdoor setting and 7 HOURS a day in front of a screen. This sums up whether or not there is a deficit but, how does it affect our community

We can examine the positive aspects of spending time in the great outdoors which in turn will give us the opposite outcome.

Building Confidence. Children have more freedom to explore and interact on an independent level rather than in structured indoor play. Children begin to make choices which in turn builds their confidence.

Promoting Creativity and Imagination. Spending time walking through the trees and imagining whether or not there were fairies was one of my favorite past times. Learning the science of the environment and creating ideas that will help preserve our future environments are only two ways that creativity and imagination are built while spending time in nature.

Leading to responsibility. It's easy for a child who spends time indoors to not understand the balance of nature. Being responsible for forest management, water supplies, and preservation can only come when it is part of the natural experience. We must be good stewards of the living things around us.

Providing different stimulation. Not just visual stimulation the outdoors also provides the smell of cedar, the sounds of woodpeckers, water, and trees rustling in the breeze. All of the senses of a child are awakened thus stimulating the mind and the nervous system in a good way.

Reducing stress and fatigue. Have you ever sat in front of a screen for hours? This creates fatigue by being immobile and sedentary. Then sit longer only to view the news or an action-packed television show that leaves your nervous system on high alert. Imagine the child who spends 7 hours in front of a screen-type device?

So what would be the aspects of spending more time indoors? It would be a lack of confidence, creativity, imagination, and responsibility. Less of a stimulation of the senses, movement, and an increase in stress and fatigue. Does this fit the profile of many of our troubled youth in the news these days? Are there solutions?

Yes, we can start by providing more life-changing outdoor opportunities for our youth. One such program is the Friends Of Camp Concord scholarship program which provides funding for a child to spend a week at camp.

Camp Concord is located in the South Lake Tahoe Region and partners with organizations like the First Tee, Contra Costa Family Justice Center, and the Mt. Diablo School District to find those families who would benefit from their scholarship fund.

Each year they host the Annual Dan Ashley Golf Tournament sponsored by organizations from all over the Bay Area. We have the choice to give opportunities that create change in the lives of our young people. Let's join efforts to undo the Nature-Deficit in our children and help them to become more confident, creative, imaginative, responsible, and peaceful individuals by becoming a sponsor and raising funds to send a child to camp.

To find out more about becoming a sponsor or part of the tournament please email tldconsulting391@gmail.com or click on the Annual Dan Ashley Golf Tournament link above.