Last child in the woods?
Child advocacy expert Richard Louv argues for children to return to nature
In Richard Louv’s book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, Louv argues that the decrease in the number of children playing in nature is correlated with an increase in Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), childhood obesity, and depression.
He credits the cause of children spending more time inside to an increase in available technology, parents’ concern for safety, and busier schedules. However, merely getting kids outside for activities such as soccer practice is not Louv’s ultimate goal. He wants children to engage in unstructured play, such as roaming free in the woods. This type of play, he asserts, increases children’s environmental awareness and provides cognitive, social, and physical benefits.
However, Louv not only argues that children need nature, but also that nature needs its children. After all, children will soon be the ones in charge of looking after our world.
Richard Louv is coming to town
Mr. Richard Louv has written seven books about family and nature, including Last Child in the Woods, and he is currently the chairman of the Children and Nature Network. Louv will be speaking at Virginia Military Institute for the 18th Annual Environmental Conference on April 11, 2007. The theme of this year's conference is Leadership, Strategies, and Action. The conference activities will take place in Cameron Hall from Tuesday April 10 through Thursday April 12, 2007.
18th Annual Environment Virginia Conference
Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Claudette Artwick
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Technical supervisor: Michael Todd