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Kids today build internet sites instead of constructing forts in the woods. Music piped into earphones has replaced listening for the sounds of bird calls and frog croaks. Cell phones and emails are more efficient than two cups on a string or flashlight signals. Childhood has changed. Unstructured play outside – child-centered, exploratory, imaginative play – is important for wholesome, balanced development of cognitive, emotional, social, and physical aptitude. Research has demonstrated that outdoor play helps children manage stress and become resilient. Natural spaces stimulate children’s limitless imaginations and foster creativity. Children who connect with nature may be more inventive and better problem-solvers due to the hands-on learning that the outdoors provide. Young people who grow up spending time in nature are also more likely to be strong advocates for the environment when they reach adulthood. This is important to ensure that the land, water and wildlife legacy we as a nation have spent the last 200 years working to conserve continues to benefit future generations. As kids have settled in to a sedentary lifestyle, their physical, mental and emotional health has suffered:
Source: The Children & Nature Network |
A study funded by The Nature Conservancy found that as the time people spent on electronic media (internet, video games, and watching movies) increased, park visits decreased. Find out more at www.videophilia.org. |
