Nature Deficient Disorder in Children-Ella Sims

           Imagine you are a young child. It is Saturday morning, and your friends invite you to spend the day with them. You get your play clothes on and quickly leave the house with them. The sun is out and there is not a cloud in the sky. You spend the day making shelters, playing tag, and finding bugs. Your feet are cold from the grass and your hands are dirty. Finally, your mother comes out and calls you for dinner. You begrudgingly go inside and wash your hands, eat dinner and pass out in bed. Now, imagine you are still a child, but you are being raised in the 21^st century. It is Saturday morning and you can’t wait to watch your favorite show. Afterwards, your friends come over to play video games. Your eyes begin to sting from staring at the screen and you need to stand up to stretch. Finally, after asking mom several times, she says dinner is ready. You get up, eat dinner, and lay in bed watching videos until you can’t watch anymore. Which childhood would you want? “A recent survey of 12,000 parents in 10 countries, who have children aged five to 12, found that one-third of kids spend under 30 minutes outside each day” (Martinko 1). Richard Louvs book titled Last Child in the Woods uses the phrase “nature-deficient disorder” to describe this epidemic (1). This is of major concern for today’s children with obesity, depression, and stress on the rise. Children are no longer interacting with the world around them but rather, overstimulated in a world of screens, and adults are not doing much to help with this. What can we do to stop this social epidemic?

History

It is 1995. A lovely couple excitedly walk into their home with their brand-new computer. They are ecstatic about all the things the Internet will be able to do for them. In their own home, they can watch videos, shop, and get answers to questions. But what they do not know is how this technology will soon overtake their lives and the lives of their future children. Ever since the debut of the Internet, appreciation for the outdoors has dwindled. One survey has found that “parents spent around two hours and 34 minutes outside each day in their youth” and most grandparents “spent more than three hours a day playing outside” (Hinsliff 26). On the other hand, around half of preschoolers don’t have a single play session outside and older children spend only 12.6 minutes participating in vigorous activity outside (Tandon 1;“The Loss of Children’s Play: A Public Health Issue” 1). While inventions such as air conditioning may have kept children inside before, it doesn’t seem nearly as impactful as modern technology. From 2011 to 2013, the amount of screen time for children in America has tripled (“Zero to Eight: Children’s Media Use in America” 1). With new technology on the rise, children are becoming less active and making themselves susceptible to mental issues. It seems things will only get worse unless something is done to fix this issue.

Children today are also being deprived of time outside when they go to school. Recess is being cut back or completely taken out of schools in order to increase instruction time. One survey from 2006 found that “14% of elementary schools in urban areas” do not have any kind of recess for first graders (“Time Out: Is Recess in Danger?” 1) and no doubt this number has increased due to more focus being placed on academic achievement. This increased disregard for outdoor time on the adult’s part is clearly going to decrease the amount of time children spend outside.

Another factor to consider is news media and how it is spread very easily. In recent years, headlines have broadcasted stories of child abduction. This instills a strong fear in parents that prevents them from letting their kids explore outside. One 2018 survey found that 25 percent of the parents greatest fear was that their children would be attacked or hurt while 14 percent’s greatest fear was that their child would be kidnapped (Jensen 1). As a result, children spend 10.4 hours sitting inside (“The Loss of Children’s Play: A Public Health Issue” 1). Because of our changing times, many adults are not in favor of outside time.

Ever since the invention of the Internet, outdoor time for children has been on a fast decline. Schools are also playing a role in this epidemic by cutting recess from the school schedule. The parental mindset of outside time has also changed because of the news and instilled fear of child abductors. Clearly, this epidemic is only getting worse as time passes and must be addressed.            

Social Effects

            When children don’t engage with nature and play outside, it has many negative effects on the children themselves. Because children are spending their days sitting inside rather than participating in physical activity outside, there is bound to be health issues. This is of major concern because one in five children in the United States are obese (“Obesity Facts Healthy Schools CDC” 1). A Canadian Health Measure Survey found that less time spent outside correlated with a high BMI, making this a serious issue with obesity on the rise (Larouche 1). Weight gain can create many physical problems for a child such as high blood pressure, heart disease, joint problems, and sleep apnea (“Obesity” 1). Children who are overweight are also more likely to have low self esteem and develop depression and anxiety (“Healthy Weight” 1). Studies have shown that outdoor exercise “helps young children develop a healthy self-image and positive self-esteem as they take pride in their physical accomplishments. The exhilaration that comes with running, laughing, and playing can also boost a child's mood” (Oswalt 1). With depression on the rise, communities are being affected by the pain that comes from suicide but what they may not realize is how much outdoor activity effects the future of their children.

            Outdoor activity also improves children’s academic performance. Studies have shown that exercise outside “boosts kids' and young people's brain power and academic prowess” (“Physical Activity” 1). Outdoor activity has also been found to reduce the “severity of symptoms of children with attention disorders,” making sitting in a classroom and learning much easier (Tantillo 1). Brain power and focus greatly effects a child’s future, making the decline of outdoor activity in schools more harmful than helpful for children academically. When children can focus in a classroom, they are able to become critical thinkers that can help the world for the better but, if they are stuck in a room all day, they cannot reach their full potential.

 Outdoor activity helps children with their social skills as well. Staring at a screen indoors does a child no good, but when they interact with other children in outdoor areas, they can develop important life skills. Such skills include building strong relationships with peers regardless of their background, ethnicity, skill level, and physical capacity (“Physical Activity Boosts Kids' Brain Power, Academic Prowess” 1). Because children are playing outside less, children will not be able to build strong relationships and be accepting of others as they grow up. In our harsh society, children need to be brought up in a way that improves acceptance of others and social skills so our world can have effective communicators to keep peace.

Overall, this lack of outdoor activity has many social effects. Children’s health, academic performance, mental well-being, and social skills are at risk because of the decrease in time outside. Not only does this lack of outdoor activity effect the children, but also their parents and teachers. Health issues in children means parents may need to invest money to help their child’s physical state. Low self-esteem may result in the child becoming a victim of suicide, bringing much pain to the entire community. Poor academic performance and lack of focus in children can make a teacher job much harder and harm a child’s critical thinking skills that will be useful for the future. Clearly, this social epidemic touches many aspects of everyday life and must be stopped.

Examples

            There are countless examples of children who are addicted to the Internet and have no desire to engage with nature. In Richard Louv’s book titled “Last Child in the Woods” one interviewed child stated that he enjoyed playing indoors more than outdoors “cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are” (Louv 1). There are many times in public areas where children are on devices in the park, a place where they are supposed to be connecting with nature. There are also young family members begrudgingly go outside when their parents tell them to, constantly asking when they can come back inside. It is evident in the world around us that this social epidemic is getting out of hand and must be stopped.

Solutions

            There are several actions that can be taken to stop this epidemic. A major one is increasing access to outdoor areas. Our concrete filled world is secluding children to communities that have little access to outdoor areas to play. Children’s desire to play in small fenced off areas is declining. Children can no longer walk out their door and enjoy their time outside. If they really want to interact with nature, much effort must be put forth to find an area that is designated for such an activity. According to Robert Louv, “overdevelopment, multiplying park rules…environmental regulations, and community covenants” greatly affect the amount of time children spend outside (Louv 30). Governmental authorities seem to be criminalizing outdoor play with increasing desire for order and protection of natural areas. Private governments are creating housing with strict covenants that discourage free outdoor play (31). In order to increase outdoor time for children, governments should increase access to open spaces outdoors and communities should have more parks in convenient places. As a result, being with nature will seem less like a privilege and more like a right for children.

            Another action that can be taken to increase children’s time outside is calming parental fears and having more supervision over outdoor areas to protect children. Parents need to be educated on the validity of their fears and assured that their children know what to do when approached by a stranger (Jensen 1). Schools can also take initiative to educate children on ‘stranger danger’. There can also be an increase in supervision from police officers in outdoor areas to calm parental fears. With assurance that their children know how to handle themselves and that there will be supervision, parents will be more likely to let their children outside.

            Parents can also play a major role by decreasing their child’s access to electronics. Studies have clearly shown that electronic use decreases the amount of time children spend outside (“Zero to Eight: Children’s Media Use in America” 1). Children today are used to being constantly stimulated by electronics. But if parents take action by restricting this usage, children will be more motivated to spend time outside. Parents can set time limits by taking the electronics away at a certain time or even setting parental controls on the internet router. Parental controls can restrict “how long children are online” and “control the time a of day that children can access the Internet” (Werdmuller 1). When such actions are taken, children can be free from distraction and increase their time outside.

Finally, another major step that can be taken to increase the amount of time children spend outside is increasing recess time in schools. Children spend a large about of time in school and many school districts are restricting them to classrooms all day (Barth 1). So, initiatives must be taken to restore recess in schools. The government has recognized this need and in 2008, the No Child Left Inside Act was passed. This act helps states “build and put into practice academic standards for education on the environment” and in turn “encourage schools to use environmental outdoor activities as part of their curricula” (Picture Perfect Playgrounds 1). When programs are implemented in schools, children have more opportunities to go outside and connect with nature.

Camus and absurdity

It is quite absurd that our society faces nature deficient disorder epidemic. Just as Camus discussed, we go day to day without questioning our routine and how far we have drifted from nature. Albert Camus once said, “we get into the habit of living before acquiring the habit of thinking” (“Albert Camus Quotes” 1). Clearly, Camus saw how humans easily fall into habit and do not even think about how absurd things are around them. Before, spending hours outside was part of everyday life but now, it is a special event.

Camus would think this epidemic is absurd because going outside should be something that children do on a regular, natural basis. He believed that individuals needed to reach beyond what their environment provided, and children especially need to reach out for opportunities to go outside instead of sticking to the screen that is given to them. It is clear that not going outside has a negative effect for children.  Individuals need to be sure to stay true to themselves and figure out that going outside is best for them. Because it is so easy to get lost in this world’s routines, many do not recognize this problem and go on living just a Camus advised against. Camus said that in order to live in “an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion” (“Albert Camus Quotes” 1). Camus would probably be disappointed in the outcomes of this social epidemic. Parents and teachers have not taken too much action to help this epidemic but rather allow their child to mindlessly spend hours inside at school and home. He would probably approve of the different programs being put into place to fix this epidemic like the No Child Left Inside Act. Clearly, this epidemic of nature deficiency disorder in children is absurd and must be addressed.

Conclusion

                In conclusion, nature deficiency disorder in children is a serious epidemic that must be put to an end. Ever since the invention of the internet, the amount of time children spend outside has been on a rapid decline. Children are confined to their homes and classrooms due to parental fears and school restrictions. This has many harmful effects on the children themselves. When children are stuck inside all day, it increases the likelihood of  obesity, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. This can also harm a child’s academic performance and social skills. In order to increase the amount of time children spend outside, there can be an increase in access to outdoor areas, a calming of parental fears, more supervision over outdoor areas, restrictions on children’s access to electronics, and an increase of recess time in schools. Clearly, this epidemic is absurd, and action must be taken to stop conforming to this unhealthy routine. If each person plays their part in stopping this epidemic, there will be a brighter future for generations of children to come.

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