1. Nature Deficit & Children
April 11, 2018
Presented by: Suzanne Pitz, Onalee Flynn, and Dawn Boseman

2. Nature Deficit is...
A term to describe the consequences of alienation from:
Decreased use of senses
Attention difficulties
Higher rates of physical & emotional illness

3. A medical term or diagnosis Anti-technology Anti-child safety
Nature Deficit is not...
A medical term or diagnosis
Anti-technology
Anti-child safety

4. Background
Between , there was a 50% decline in the number of children 9-12 who spent time in outdoor activities such as:
Hiking
Fishing
Walking
Gardening
And beach play
Over a 20 year period, children’s free play time outdoors declined over 9 hours per week.
Research study published by the University of Maryland’s Sandra Hofferth

6. Why does it matter?
Rates of anxiety and depression in children is at an all-time high. Between there was a 49% increase in prescriptions for children.
Spending on these medication surpassed spending on antibiotics and asthma medications for children.
Cornell University research, along with 100s of other studies, shows “Life’s stressful events appear not to cause as much psychological distress in children who live in high-nature conditions compared with children who live in low-nature conditions.”

9. Attention-Restoration Theory & Research
Two Types of Attention
Directed attention-school type
Involuntary attention-based on multisensory fascination experiences
Research done by renowned environmental psychologist Stephen Kaplan at University of Michigan.

10. If you can find an environment where the attention is automatic, you allow directed attention to rest. And that means an environment that’s strong on fascination,”explained Stephen Kaplan in Monitor on Psychology

11. Nature is an ideal example of such an environment
Nature is an ideal example of such an environment. Indeed, according to the Kaplans, nature can be the most effective source of such restorative relief.

12. What can you do? Capture the time. Get your kids outdoors.
Encourage primary experiences- get wet and muddy.
Make outdoor time self-directed.
Start in your home and neighborhood.
Focus on involuntary-attention activities

13. Resources Sawnee Mountain Nature Preserve
Chattahoochee National Forest-Bowman’s Island
Buford Fish Hatchery and Family Fishing Pond
Lake Lanier Lower Pool Park
Haw Creek Park Old Mill Park
Big Creek Greenway

14. Invite nature to your home with:
Invite native flora and fauna into your life! See National Audubon Society's "Invitation to a Healthy Yard" at
Certify your backyard as a wildlife habitat. See the National Wildlife Federation's website:
Build a backyard weather station. read The Kids Book of Weather Forecasting by Mark Breen, Kathleen Friestad, and Michael Kline.
Establish a Green Hour at your home. A green hour is a time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world. See for ideas to simply get started.

15. ANY QUESTIONS? You can find me at spitz@forsyth.k12.ga.us
Thanks!
ANY QUESTIONS?
You can find me at