Interesting Article: "nature-deficit" in kids

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/exercise_fitness/nature-therapy.html

I found this article worth reading: it's about getting kids back outside to play.

I doubt that any of us have a "nature-deficit", though...

Oh, this is very good-thanks for the link.

Hi ladies, we were in your neck of the woods over the week-end Sue. We came up there to visit with our DD, SIL and GK'S to celebrate our GS's birthday. It wasn't too bad over Gov't Camp.
I feel real good about our GK's as they play outside all the time. Our DD did too when she was little. We did a lot of camping and sailing at Elk Lake. We used to moar our sail boats there. Over the course of about 12 yrs we had 5 different sailboats starting out with a 14' Omega, 17 O'Day, 20' O'Day, 22' Catalina (my favorite) and then back down to a 15' Coronado after we moved out here. The Catalina we drove our '76 GMC PU all the way to Seattle to buy. I really miss that boat, but don't let DH hear me say that. Anyway, we now have an old wooden drift boat no motor just oars and I love it.
Sorry, got off on a tangent. I think ALL children should put their video games away for the summer and enjoy life the way WE used to when we were kids!
Susan

amen and amen....

I know a few grown ups that could use this advice!

Hi again! Our GK's spent the better part of the summer with us last yr and this is where they spent 95% of their time. Yes that's an old 8' stock tank. Those kids had an ABSOLUTE BALL!!! We have a pool testing kit and treated the tank with bleach when needed. They can't wait for summer so they can come back and play in the "pool" again. LOL!
Susan

Here's another pic.

Great swimming hole! And good article, too.

That makes me wanna be a kid again!! Love the sun's reflection. I sooooo can't wait to be too hot.

Heck, I am a nature deficit adult! Having a 3yo, it seems often the only nature I get is in my backyard. Which is precisely why I am constantly working on it, and adding to it.

We just got an email about how kids get more fantasy play with cars and trucks, play sets that make up whole cities and so on rather than physical play skipping rope, running or bike riding. And that has consequences for how their brains develop, not without losses, however. Here's a link to the actual story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19212514.

Rob

Rob, your days of being nature defecit are over. A guy that is in to rocks not liking the outdoors? I noticed that my daughter was never to excited about getting dirty and my son lived outside! Now they are the exact opposites, Tera even listed a plant on her xmas list!

Hey, another NPR listener! Thanks for the cool link.
I wonder if this is a sign of advanced age: Whenever I read these studies - like how kids need to be outside playing, how dirt is a natural anti-depressant, how kids (and parents) need 'down time' with no structured stress, how early childhood pretending is the practice for the real thing - I find my self thinking:
How can I get in on all this free money to study what people have known for eons of time?? I'm in the wrong career field.
At least now when I advise parents that their kids are too stressed out from after school activities each and every day, and that this does not benefit them much, I can whip out the NPR article to substantiate my claims! Excellent! Stamped and approved. (don't tell Laurie I stole her stamp. I'm putting it back right now.) I will file it next to the article about dirt's anti-depressant qualities.

This is a great link, My grandneice who is 6 reminded me the other day when are we going to start her garden, I was shocked I told her this last year when we where picking the veggis out of my garden, and she knows to stay out of aunties gardens and does not pick a flower unless auntie says so. and she loves to get dirty. Bugs we have to work on.
So I bought her some tools and some seeds and will give her one of my raised beds all her own. and see what comes up, I will not do any of the work just supervise, Take that back will get the bed ready for her, and take lots of pics of Clowys garden.
This will be fun

Pixy, what I sometimes wonder is how have people gotten so far away from this that someone even needs to do a study???


Mary, do you want seeds for your niece's garden? I've got some extra nasturtium seeds, if you'd like them. You can tell her that they were sent just for her garden. I'll bring them Sat if you'd like?

I know!! Why do they need to do a study? And this from someone who was a research major in undergrad. I'm telling you , there is money to be made out there studying things where you will already know exactly how the data will turn out, and it ain't supposed to be that way! :)

Yes Suzy, She would just love it, will make a special pic 'No' video. of you giving me them to me. 'from a special friend to Clowy' She would just prize them, I can do videos with my camera, just can't share them on DG. So sad. But if we want to do some Videos I am bring 2 jump drives with me and can down load them on Rach's computer on to the drives and copy them to CDs them mail them to all who wants them.

I just think kids now days are to soft, when we grew up it was allot different. I think doing a survey on kids now is a waste of time most of them have no morels, they just don't care, they have no discipline from they parents and run amuck, I deal with it everyday at work, I can't understand how a mother or father can let their kids just destroy a store. And you look right at them, and say you can't let them do this, and they can't speak english, so now I'm talking to a wall.
I guess I'm just speaking out, little stressed out but I think they need to look at more of the foreigners. just my opinion

tilly, HEAR,HEAR!!!

LOL, Tilly, OK, I'll definitely bring her the seeds, and I'll see what else I have, but please, no videos of me! I really don't like my picture being taken and I tense up terribly.

I'll bring her some seedlings. How about sunflowers? Is there a child alive who doesn't love them? I have three kinds. And some morning glory vine with big purple flowers. Oh, and some lovely cherry tomatoes. She'll be set!

Suzy, you would never know, I'm very sneaky and have a very small camera, but I'm not that mean!!! but it could be fun. LOL

Pix, she will love them, thank you

Hey I just had a thought ( look out I might I might scare myself)
I know allot of you are getting ready to do your veggie gardens, how about a few from everyone and I will teach Clowy how to tag, and keep a record of the seeds planted and from who, How they progress. and photos too.
The first Lesson will be, the Icky part getting the bed ready for seeds.

The only bad part about this is I work a swing shift and she has school in the AM so I have to work out a day with mom ( she works to) to have her here at least once a week on my days off. This could be a slight problem. gotta work out the kinks.
Going to be fun, and lots of veggies "I hope".