Nature Deficit Disorder The Human Costs of Alienation from the Natural World Brad Little Introduce Self Visited a natural area? Today? Week? Month?

“Nature Deficit Disorder” Coined by Richard Louv in his book Last Child in the Woods (2005). Not a clinical diagnosis. General term used to describe the growing disconnection between humans and the natural world. Only beginning to make it’s way into the scientific and medical communities.

Natural Areas vs. Human-made Green Spaces www.localmotion.org www.dkimages.com Natural Areas = any part of the physical world containing features and products of earth, not a result of humans or human creation. www.uvm.edu www.enjoyburlington.com

Common Problems Associated with Nature Deficit Disorder (NDD) ADHD Obesity Depression Physical illness and and recovery time. Obesity Researchers have linked indoor play to childhood obesity. According to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, 2/3 of American children can’t pass a basic physical exam, 40% of American children show early signs of heart and circulation problems. The Center for Disease control reports a 60% increase in overweight American Adults between 1991 and 2000. CDC data also shows a 36% increase in overweight children between the ages of 2 and 5 from 1989-1999. But Soccer and Little League participation is greater than ever. Louv “The physical and emotional exercise that children enjoy when they play in nature is more varied and less time bound than organized sports.” Depression 2003 survey in Journal “Psychiatric Services” - rate of child prescriptions has almost doubled in past five years. -Many children benefit from these drugs, but natural therapy is always over looked. Physical Illness Galbladder Surgery patients - recovered faster in rooms with a view of trees than in rooms which faced a brick wall. Prison Inmates - paved courtyard view, 24% more illness than those facing farm land.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Approximately 2 million children with ADHD in the in the United States (Nat'l. Institute of Mental Health). Prescriptions for methylphenidate (Ritalin) increased 600% between 1990 and 1995. Spending on ADHD for preschoolers increased 369% between 2000 and 2003. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 3-5% of children have ADHD, that’s approximately 2 million kids in the United States. Symptoms include: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Increase in the amount of kids placed on medication over 20 years. 90% were Male.

Causes of ADHD are heavily debated, new studies seem to appear every month contradicting one another. - Recent developments have linked the symptoms of ADHD to watching television. Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development “Communications Outlook 2007”

The Effects of Screen Time on ADHD Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, April 2004 Each hour increases likelihood of concentration problems by 10%. Urbanized culture prevents natural outlets for children’s energy. Each hour of TV watched per day by preschoolers, increases their likelihood of developing concentration problems or other symptoms of ADHD by 10%. As early as the 1950s, families still participated in agricultural activities. Gave kids a way to focus energy in constructive ways, for example, doing farm chores, baling hay, jumping in swimming holes, climbing trees, or racing through fields.

Nature’s Ritalin Medication Behavioral Therapy Nature Therapy Prescribing “green time” in addition to medication and behavioral therapy may lead to more successful treatment of ADHD. Nature Therapy Widely accessible Free of side effects Nonstigmatizing Inexpensive

Why does NDD occur? Parental Fears Nature has become the bogeyman Stranger danger - Exaggerated by the media, numbers are grossly skewed (only 200-300 per year), have stayed the same over the past 20 years, most abductors are friends or family. Keeping kids locked up inside and under strict parental control deprives children of chances to explore and adventure, to become self confident and discerning, and to interact with neighbors and build community. Outdoor Air Pollution - EPA “indoor air pollution number one threat to health”, 2-10x worse than outdoor air Environmental hazards Disease - FDA might regulate sanitation and food prep at McDonald’s, but what about the BALL PIT? West Nile? Mosquitoes like night lights too. Animal attacks - even more skewed than stranger danger Brown recluse - prefers indoors www.annefine.co.uk www.sundancechannel.com

Access to green space and natural areas. Limited access to Natural areas or green space. Urban areas / lower class - accessibility Nature preservations - regulations are good, but not if people don’t see the benefits. www.inhabitat.com www.arlingtonva.us Access to green space and natural areas.

www.stfrancis.edu Everyday Technology Everyday Technology - detracts from natural environment, does not stimulate all senses. School funding - computerized classrooms TV’s in every room, including bedroom LCD projectors, advertisements REAR SEAT DVD PLAYERS Cell phones, ipods, laptops www.lexus.com

How to Avoid NDD Encourage study or play in rooms with a view of nature. Advocate for green spaces at school and work. Care for plants and trees at your residence and in community. Published by the University of Illinois -Green space is especially helpful during recess/lunch break, helps renew children and adult’s concentration for second half of the day. -Caring for trees means caring for people, teach children about plant life and allow them to participate, take part in community gardens. Green Urbanism

Green Urbanism Village Homes, Davis, CA 1976 First example of green urbanism Sully solar powered Child “harvesters” Pedestrian and bike friendly May seem Idealistic www.communitygreens.org www.weburbanist.com

-It’s simple though, all it takes is community involvement -Central Park, designed with everyone in mind. Wrap-Up: Suggestions for raising children Findings Apply to everyone, not just children Get Outside and enjoy, it’s good for you!! blog.tmcnet.com

Sources Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv (2005). Tucker, Patrick. “Curing Nature Deficit Disorder”. The Futurist. May-June 2006. Healy, Jane M. “Early Television Exposure and Subsequent Attention Problems in Children.” Pediatrics.

Nature’s Ritalin The Kaplans - Attention-Restoration Theory Human-Environment Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois “compared to the aftereffects of play in paved outdoor or indoor areas, activities in natural, green settings were far more likely to leave ADD children better able to focus [and] concentrate.” 1970’s Steve and Rachel Kaplan, Environmental psychologists at the University of Michigan Two kinds of attention: directed attention and fascination (involuntary attention) Too much = “Directed attention fatigue” - impulsive behavior, agitation, irritation, and inability to concentrate - similar to symptoms of ADHD. Wilderness programs, people reported a sense of peace and ability to think more clearly (restorative environment). Nature relieves directed attention fatigue, since the environment is strong in fascination or automatic attention. Outdoor green spaces foster creative play and reduce symptoms of attention-deficit disorders when compared to indoor activities like watching TV or outdoor activities in paved, non-green areas. The greener the setting the more relief. Journal “Environment and Behavior” - Quote