Kids outdoor education

Connecting
Kids with
Nature
Today’s

A Policy
Action Plan

Connecting Today’s Kids with Nature
A Policy Action Plan
May 2008

Written by Heather White, Esq., Director of Education Advocacy

© 2008 by the National Wildlife Federation. All rights reserved.

Larry J. Schweiger
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Wildlife Federation

Acknowledgments
We especially thank Kevin Coyle, Eliza Russell, Allen Cooper, Patrick Fitzgearld,
Julie Gustafson and Bethe Almeras for their many valuable contributions.

Special thanks to Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, and the founder of the
Children and Nature Network (www.cnnaturenet.org), an excellent resource for research and
strategies on connecting children to nature, and the more than 200 organizations involved in
the “No Child Left Inside ” coalition, www.nclicoalition.org, that have been advocating for
™

federal funding for environmental education and promoting environmental literacy.

Cover and back cover images by NWF/Charlie Archambault.

Graphic design by Sarah Ornstein, DesignS By Sarah
designsbysarah@cox.net

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION
11100 Wildlife Center Drive
Reston, VA 20190
703-438-6000
www.nwf.org

Message from the President
i
Looking out of my home-office window, I can see down a long forested valley
across North Park to a far-away place appropriately called “wildwood” where nine
decades ago, Rachel Carson and her mother Maria roamed the Pine Creek
bottoms, explored rock outcrops and woodlands, listened to birds, and discovered
spring wildflowers and insects. Those hours in the fields of western Pennsylvania
profoundly influenced one of the 20th century’s greatest women by fostering a rich
sense of wonder and profound love of nature.

Perhaps reflecting on her wildwood walks with her mother, Rachel wrote later in
life, “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder he needs the
companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the
joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.”
©Schweiger

NWF President & CEO
Larry Schweiger holding his Rachel would be deeply saddened by what has happened to the traditional
grandson, Thadeus.
connection between Americans and the outdoors, something that is markedly
different from anything in our past. The evidence is everywhere. The average child today spends
more than six hours a day watching TV, playing video games, or operating a computer. Meanwhile,
the amount of time U.S. children now spend outdoors has declined by 50% in the past 20 years.

An important connection between being outdoors and caring for nature is being broken, and it
greatly concerns me. Children who fish, camp and spend time in the wild before age 11 are much
more likely to grow up to be environmentally committed as adults, according to Cornell University
researchers. It was for me.

As a child, I spent many hours outdoors with my father, who was a dog trainer and hunter. He died
more than 30 years ago, yet when I go to the woods and smell a familiar plant or hear a distant crow
on a crisp fall day, my memories of being with Dad come flooding back in rich detail, as if it were
yesterday. In those moments I can hear his voice clearly and I can see his ruddy face in the golden
light of an early morning sun. I cherish those memories.

Although many environmental advocates speak of
early experiences in nature that formed their
connection, people of all professions often talk fondly
of childhood experiences outdoors. Most adult
Americans had a childhood where they could “go
outside and play,” four little words rarely heard today.

What will become of wild places if children know little
of the mystery, the grace, the interconnectedness of all
living things? How will we address global warming
and other environmental threats if we do not engage
and prepare the next generation for these monumental
©NWF/Charlie Archambault.

challenges? We only save what we love and we only
love what we know.

Exploring nature in your own backyard.

As one of the largest conservation organizations in the
country, National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is committed to
i
helping children “rediscover the joy, the excitement, and the
mystery” of our world.

With over 70 years of experience inspiring and fostering a
connection with nature and wildlife, NWF continues to lead
the way. Our award-winning Ranger Rick™ magazine has
sparked curiosity about nature and wildlife in generations of

©Schweiger
children. Every month it delivers engaging stories, wildlife NWF has more than 70 years of experience
images, and ideas for fun outdoor activities. In response to inspiring and fostering a connection between
children and nature.
increasing demand for age appropriate magazines about
animals for younger children, NWF also offers Your Big Backyard™ for families with children 3-8
years old and Wild Animal Baby™ for families with children 12 months to 3 years old.

With tens of thousands of Certified Wildlife Habitats and Schoolyard Habitats , our wildlife
™ ®

gardening programs help individuals and families attract birds, butterflies and other local wildlife to
backyards across the country. A more recent addition to the suite of fun family outdoor activities is
NWF’s Great American Backyard Campout™, which is connecting families, neighborhoods and
entire communities through camping, by sharing campfire stories and eating s’mores.

To encourage parents and caregivers to make time for children to “go outside and play,” NWF
launched Green Hour, www.nwf.org/kidsoutside, a source of information and inspiration to create
daily free time outside for children.

NWF and our partners are also working to engage policymakers on the local, state, and national
level by:

• Advocating for increased funding and opportunities for environmental education, a proven
strategy to enhance a child’s connection to the outdoors, improve academic performance, and
heighten interest in science and math;
• Calling upon our public health agencies to promote and educate parents on the importance of
outdoor play for our children’s well-being; and
• Increasing opportunities for outdoor recreation by promoting better community design for kid-
friendly natural play areas and green spaces for children to grow and to connect.

We can’t do this alone. With your help, we can make sure America’s children carry with them a
strong connection to nature. These are the memories they will carry with them fondly for a lifetime.
You may even discover that you helped the next Rachel Carson find her wildwood.

Larry Schweiger,
President & CEO of the National Wildlife Federation

ii

Today’s Reality

©ShutterStock
A Parent’s Perspective
As I walked through the hallway of my daughter’s elementary school, memories
of my own school days came flooding back. For years, my day began by securing
books to my bike rack and riding through the neighborhood to school which was
only a few blocks away. It is only now that I understand how deep an impact my
time riding bikes, playing in the woods, and exploring the neighborhood stream
had on my development as a person.

As I learn more about the health benefits associated with spending unstructured
Exploring nature can provide key bonding time in the outdoors, I am even more convinced of the importance of adding time
chances for parent and child. Jaime outdoors—a Green Hour®—to our family routine.
Berman Matyas with her two daughters.

Outdoor physical activity is good for our lungs,
growing bones and our hearts – in a multitude
of ways. For me, playing outside opened my
heart up to a love of nature, a sense of
stewardship and responsibility for other living
creatures. I came to understand the
interconnectedness of the natural world in a
very personal way.

As a parent, it is now my responsibility to
foster this sense of wonder and stewardship in
my children. Providing them experiences in the
outdoors is an important way to pass along
these values. And I believe that doing so with
friends and other families is a great way to
have fun and create meaningful relationships.
©Matyas

Ins p i r i n g A m e r ic a n s to pro te ct w i l d l i f e f o r o ur children’s future.

C o n n e c t i n g To d a y ’s K i d s w i t h N a t u r e

Like most parents, I feel forever challenged by time.
Ensuring teeth get brushed twice a day, three meals
iv
are eaten and homework completed is a daily
challenge. Yet as I think about my commitment as a
parent to raising healthy children with self-
confidence and strong values, I believe there is
much more to being a good parent than managing
these daily routines. Over the past few years I’ve
made a concerted effort to integrate outdoor
activities as part of our family’s daily regimen. Now,
our favorite setting for relaxed family time is
outdoors, not in front of a television. Whether it’s a
Saturday morning hike, planting our garden, or lying
in the backyard playing the cloud game, the
outdoors has provided an ideal setting for my family
to tune out other influences and connect with each
other and our environment. There’s always

©Matyas
something for us to explore and discover together. Simple activities like swinging can be a scheduled activity for
today’s kids.
When discussing outdoor exploration, a consistent concern raised by other parents is safety. The “I can’t
let my kids play outside alone” dilemma. I’ve thought a lot about this. While concerns about
unsupervised play outdoors are real, encountering stranger danger is much more likely amongst children
surfing the Internet than riding bikes through the neighborhood. While some parents may no longer feel
comfortable allowing their children the same freedom to explore the outdoors alone and unsupervised,
there are many other ways to connect kids with nature: through community and volunteer projects;
scheduled but unstructured group activities; school activities; and family outings. Getting unplugged and
outside is good for adults too!

There’s more that can be done at school, too. Given
the importance of unstructured time outdoors to our
children’s overall development and well-being, we
should expect a portion of the school day to be
dedicated to outdoor and nature education.
Unfortunately, with current constraints on schools,
there is less time for recess and physical activity in
school settings. And yet, the research continues to
tell us of the positive relationship between
academic performance and creativity and
unstructured outdoor play and exploration. As
members of the school community, we can help
improve our local education system by getting
involved. We can help remove barriers to
connecting children and the natural world. More
physical activity is also believed to have a positive
influence on a suite of health issues facing society
today, such as obesity, ADHD, and diabetes.
©Matyas

Enjoying a quiet moment with family can be a treat for today’s Unfortunately, the current trend in many school
busy families. systems is to reduce time for PE, recess and field

Nationa l Wild life Fed er a tion • www.be outthere.o rg


trips. As parents, we have the
power to make a positive
v
difference in our children’s
education. We can get involved at
a local level by volunteering to
help create a schoolyard habitat,
hosting outdoor school events, or
speaking out for the importance of
funding hands-on environmental
education. We can also make a
meaningful difference at the state
and national levels by advocating
for improvements to current
education policy and funding to
support more time outdoors and
more environmental education.
Both will better prepare our

©Matyas
children for the future. The pure childhood joy of playing should not be taken for granted but seen as a
value for all American children to experience.
As a mother and conservationist, I understand the importance of creating opportunities for my children
to have time to connect with nature. Healthy children and healthy families need time together in the
out-of-doors. We must share responsibility for reversing the concerning trend of children getting less
unstructured time outdoors and becoming disconnected with nature. To raise healthy children and future
generations that have a concern for the natural world, we must take action now. Make a family
commitment to spend regular time out-of-doors – a family Green Hour® – volunteer to lead outdoor
programs at a local school, and advocate at the local state or federal level for more funding and policy
support for children to have outdoor education.

As my girls re-tell stories of our campouts, their berry picking adventures or the interesting creatures
they found under a rotting log on a recent walk through the woods, I smile as I know that these
activities will forever have an impact on who they are and the kind of adults they will become.

Jaime Berman Matyas
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
National Wildlife Federation


Connecting Today’s Kids with Nature

Table of Contents

Message from the President ..........................................................................................i

Today’s Reality ..............................................................................................................iii

Summary ........................................................................................................................1

Understanding Our Children’s Nature Deficit ..........................................................7

Nature Deficit Defined

Why We Keep Our Kids Indoors

What is at Stake?

Solutions to Reverse Nature Deficit and Connect Our Children to Nature ........15

Connect Kids to Nature through Environmental Education

Promote Outdoor Play through our Public Health Systems

Increase Opportunities for Outdoor Play through Better Design and Access

Encourage Parents to Build in Time for Outdoor Play through a National

Media and Educational Campaign

What You Can Do ........................................................................................................20

Take Action in Your Community

Take Action in Your State

Take Action at the National Level

Endnotes ........................................................................................................................25

1

Summary

“Go outside and play.” Most of us remember
hearing those four little words throughout our childhood. It is not possible for us
to imagine childhood without powerful memories of climbing trees, exploring the
neighborhood, or just watching the clouds.

Yet recent research shows that children are spending half as much time outside as
they did 20 years ago. Today’s kids spend six and a half hours a day “plugged
into” electronic media. In his 2005 book, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv
described this American trend. He gave this alarming problem a powerful name.
“If a child is to keep alive his

Today’s kids suffer from a “nature deficit.”
inborn sense of wonder, he

There are many contributors to nature deficit. Often parents’ fear of strangers
needs the companionship

keeps kids indoors. Some parents worry about bug bites, bee stings, and poison
of at least one adult who
ivy. Many children simply do not have an “outside” to play in because of the lack
of playgrounds, parks, and open space. Others cannot get to a safe outside area
can share it, rediscovering

because of busy roads and intersections. Liability concerns have limited
with him the joy, excitement
traditional outdoor play activities like climbing trees and building forts. Video
games and other electronics lure kids inside. In some communities, kids are so
and mystery of the world we

overscheduled that they just do not have time to play unless it is through an
live in.”
organized sport. —Rachel Carson,
Author of Silent Spring
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is committed to connecting children to
nature. Children should have access to and time for play in nature. A right for
unstructured play. A right to create and explore. A right to experience the sense
of wonder of being outside.



2

©ShutterStock
Youth spend an average of six hours daily connected to electronic devices.

What is at Research has linked childhood obesity even reduces the severity of
Stake? to a lack of play time outdoors. symptoms of Attention Deficit/
The Health of Our Children Although physical activity through Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD),
Nature deficit has had profound organized sports can help address which affects millions of American
impacts on our children’s mental and childhood obesity, the medical children.
physical health. Over the past 20 community recognizes that
years, time spent playing outdoors has unstructured free time outdoors has The Economy
been cut in half, but the childhood unique health benefits to children. The economic impacts of nature
obesity rate has more than doubled Children who play outside are more deficit are significant. The costs of the
and the adolescent obesity rate has active and more physically fit than childhood obesity epidemic to our
tripled. Doctors warn that, for the first those who don’t. Time in nature public health systems could reach
time in American history, life improves a chld’s academic $100 billion annually. Hunting and
expectancy may actually decrease performance, concentration, balance, fishing licenses sales have stagnated,
because of the health impacts of the coordination, and self-esteem. Recent resulting in severe cuts to state
current childhood obesity epidemic. studies indicate that playing outside resource agencies’ budgets. A decline
in outdoor retail sales, a $730 billion a
year industry sector, may soon follow.

The Future of American
Know the FACTS
Conservation
From the redwood forests to the Gulf
Research Shows:

Stream waters, exploring the diverse
E nv i ro n m en ta l E d u c at i on :
n Good for overall student n Standardized test
performance performance improves
landscapes of America has shaped
n Great at motivating students n Supports and improves other who we are as Americans. Children
n Critical thinking skills science learning who spend time in nature are more
consistently improve n Supports language-arts likely to have pro-environmental
n Math skills consistently development attitudes as adults. Time spent in
improve n Under-resourced nature with an adult important to the
n Life science skills students show child often shapes a child’s long-term
consistently increased improvement
environmental ethic. If this nature
deficit continues unabated, we may
improve over peers

face a dearth of environmental
Sources: (Bartosh 2004);
(Athman & Monroe 2004).
©ShutterStock

Nationa l Wild life Feder ation • www.be outthere.o rg


leaders, professionals, and advocates education can connect children to the educate parents that down time
as we try to conquer future natural world. In addition to providing outside can result in healthier, happier
3
environmental challenges such as this important connection, there are kids. We will ask healthcare
global warming. We may also lose a many academic benefits to professionals to also consider
unique aspect of our national culture environmental education, including recommending outdoor play for
and identity. higher test scores in math, reading, overstressed kids and for children
and language arts. Studies show that diagnosed with ADHD.
integrated environmental education
programs also increase children’s Increase Opportunities for
”We talk a lot about our

critical thinking skills, self- Outdoor Recreation through
children’s future, but not

confidence, and academic motivation. Better Design and Access
Environmental education can also The use of natural landscapes in
that much about children.

serve as an educational equalizer playground design leads to more active
It’s time for big conservation

across race, ethnicity, and and more creative play. In many
socioeconomic levels. communities, children do not have
organizations to actively

access to safe outdoor play areas.
engage children and work

Promote Outdoor Play Connecting city parks through
through our Public Health
to protect them, to
greenways and other green spaces can
Systems provide natural areas for children to
energize them, and to

NWF will encourage federal and state play and increase wildlife habitat.
cultivate their creativity in
public health leaders to educate NWF will target cities in our nation’s
parents and caregivers about the migratory bird flyways to establish
protecting our world.”
—Richard Louv,
Author of Last Child in the Woods
importance of play in tackling these green links that also serve as
childhood obesity and improving wildlife corridors. By working with
children’s mental health. The medical designers, city planners, and local
Solutions to community recognizes that outdoor elected officials, NWF will work to
Reversing play time is critical to children’s increase wildlife habitat and ensure
Nature Deficit physical, mental, emotional, and that children have access to green, kid-
and Connecting social well-being. Well-child visits friendly areas in their communities for
Children to reflect an important opportunity to unstructured play outside.
Nature
Reversing nature deficit and
connecting children to nature will take
concerted policy action on the local,
state, and federal levels. Since its
inception in 1936, National Wildlife
Federation (NWF) has worked to
develop public policies that protect the
environment and increase outdoor
recreation opportunities for children.
As part of our campaign to connect
children to nature, we will:

Connect Kids to Nature

through Environmental
Education
NWF will advocate for better funding
and access to environmental Physical activity, like bike riding, decreases health concerns such as diabetes.
education; hands-on environmental



Encourage Parents to
Build in Regular Time for
4
Outdoor Play through
GreenHour®, a National
Educational Campaign
Parents and policymakers can make a
difference to get children to
experience all the benefits of free time
in nature. NWF’s national media and
educational campaign, GreenHour®,
helps parents with simple suggestions

on how to play outside. To give
parents and caregivers the
information, tools, and inspiration to
get their kids outside, NWF has
Enjoying nature as a family has long-reaching effects in children.
created an online resource,
www.GreenHour.org. NWF and its
affiliated state organizations will also accessible green spaces where • Volunteer in a local park, school,
form new “No Child Left Inside™” children can learn and play. Visit day care center, after-school care
coalitions and work with existing GreenHour.org for ideas on how facility, or nature center. Work in
groups of health professionals, to connect children to nature. a community garden, participate in
educators, day care providers, after- a trash clean up, perform trail
• Garden for wildlife with
school care providers, business maintenance, or support park
children. NWF has established a
leaders, anglers, hunters, safety efforts.
gardening for wildlife program
environmental leaders, and elected that is a perfect way to share your • Play with a child outdoors.
officials to take collective action to love of the outdoors with children Research shows that spending
connect children with nature. and foster a future connection to time outdoors with children can
nature. Not only does it give kids help shape their long-term
What You Can Do a chance to get their hands dirty, environmental ethic. Free play in
Take Action Close to Home the program also helps create an nature also increases physical
On a personal level, solutions to understanding of how the things fitness and reduces anxiety. Go
connect children to nature are pretty people plant impact the fishing. Take a hike. Or just go for
simple. Research shows that environment; for example, how a walk and look at the clouds.
childhood experiences in nature with replacing grass lawns with native
an adult family member or mentor wildflowers, shrubs, and trees Take Action in Your
help to shape a long-term connection provides a nurturing refuge for Community
with nature. Spend time with your wildlife. The consequences of nature deficit are
kids outdoors. Consider the following felt most keenly at the local level.
actions: • Encourage your local school to Engage your local government,
participate in NWF’s neighborhood associations, and other
• Experience Green Hour . NWF Schoolyard Habitats Program, community-based organizations to:
®
®

recommends that parents give their an integrated environmental
kids a "Green Hour" every day, education program where kids • Get the word out. Educate health
a time for unstructured play and plant wildlife-friendly vegetation professionals, teachers, day care
interaction with the natural world. on school grounds. It gets kids providers, after-school care
This can take place in a garden, a outside, educates them about the providers, city planners, business
backyard, the park down the street, natural world, and has been shown leaders, and environmental
or any place that provides safe and to improve their scores on professionals, and urge them to
standardized tests.



incorporate nature deficit solutions opportunities for field trips to local • Require public health and
into their everyday practices. nature centers, supply tools for an social service agencies to 5
after-school facility garden project, educate parents about the benefits
• Work with local planning
or give materials for a community- of outdoor play to children’s health
commissions and homeowners’
based environmental education to fight obesity and make kids’
associations to create zoning
program. lives better.
policies and incentives to
encourage more kid-friendly green • Encourage day care and
spaces for creative play and Take Action in Your State pre-kindergarten certification
designate special areas where State governments are responsible for programs to include education on
children can participate in the majority of public policies that can the benefits of time outside for
traditional outdoor activities such make our children’s lives healthy, children.
as climbing trees and fort-building, happy, and more active. State
• Provide more funding for
which have been limited because governments should consider
existing state programs that
of liability concerns. integrated policy reforms that include
promote recess, access to parks,
connecting children to nature
• Support opportunities and camp experiences, and other ways
throughout the state health, social
funding for local environmental to get kids outdoors.
service, natural resources, and
education, including asking local
education systems. There are a number • Declare a Children’s Outdoor
school board members to provide
of meaningful actions your governor Bill of Rights to ensure children
information on current
and state legislature should take: have the right to experience all the
environmental education efforts,
benefits of unstructured free time
plans to update programs, and • Host a “No Child Left Inside™” in nature.
ways to increase funding for forum to discuss ways to connect
programs that help teachers link children to nature with health care
students to the outdoors. professionals, business leaders,
• Team up with local law nonprofit organizations, educators,
enforcement to ensure that parents after-school providers, urban
are adequately informed about the planners, hunters and anglers,
Know the FACTS
safety of public parks and play conservation groups, and state and
local officials to create access to
Summer Vacation:
areas and to increase opportunities
for kids to play safely outside. safe outdoor play areas and
A Ne w E x p e ri en c e

educate parents on the benefits of
fo r a n In d oo r
• Create a local “No Child Left unstructured free play.
G e n er at i on
Inside™” Day or participate in
other community awareness • Institute mandatory state
Research shows

standards for minimum exercise
that school children
events, such as NWF’s Great
in school that focus on outdoor
are actually gaining
American Backyard Campout ,
™
weight during summer
NWF’s Wildlife Watch Day, activities for children.
©ShutterStock

vacation now. Communities
National Get Outdoors Day, and • Pass state environmental
should respond by:
International Migratory Bird Day . education legislation to promote
®
n Connecting kids to water

• Reach out to after-school place-based and outdoor
safety classes and increase

environmental education and
opportunities for swim
programs to see how you can help lessons.
them create opportunities for more increase funding for updating
environmental education
n Sponsoring more day camps
free play time outside for kids. at local parks.
Research shows that the vast programs.
n Working with local libraries to
majority of children are enrolled in encourage kids to read about
some kind of after-school the outdoors, then go outside.
program. Provide incentives and Source: (Von Hippel 2007).



Take Action at the
National Level
6
The federal government has an
important role in creating
opportunities for children to play
outdoors. Several federal policy
actions can make a difference in
connecting children with nature, and
your federal officials should work to:

• Pass proposed federal

legislation, such as the “No
Child Left Inside™” amendment
to the “No Child Left Behind” Act,
to get environmental education Children who have a significant experience with nature by age 11 are more likely to
back in the classroom and give value nature as an adult.
incentives to states to create
environmental literacy plans. • Form a Twenty-first Century • Increase the federal recreation
Presidential Commission on the budget and review current federal
• Reauthorize the National
Great Outdoors to make outdoor agency programs and assess how
Environmental Education Act to
time part of children’s daily they can connect children to
update environmental education
experiences, and more fully nature.
standards and increase critical
explore the impacts of nature
funding for environmental • Use existing federal public
deficit on public health.
education. health programs to educate
parents on the importance of
outdoor play to children’s health.
• Call upon the Surgeon General
FACTS and Secretary of Health and
Human Services to ask parents
Know the
to make a commitment to
Research Shows:
children’s health by encouraging
n Kids are spending less time outdoors than they did 20 years ago.

their children to experience daily
n Play outdoors can increase creativity, reduce stress, and lead to

free play time outside.
increased physical fitness.
n Viewing nature can reduce physiological stress

Conclusion
response, increase levels of interest and attention,
and decrease feelings of fear, anger, or aggression.
Together, we can connect our children
to nature and ensure that the next
n Early-life outdoor experiences—whether alone or with
others—have been identified as the most important
factor in developing an generation has the opportunity, the
environmental ethic. space, and the encouragement to “Go
n Short-term exposure to natural Outside and Play.”
areas through brief walks and
even looking at images of
nature has been found to
have positive effects on
mood, reducing feelings of
anger and anxiety.
©ShutterStock

Sources: (Juster et al 2004); (Burdette & Whitaker 2005); (Kuo &
Sullivan 2001).


7

Understanding
our Children’s
Nature Deficit

©Shutterstock.
Nature Deficit Defined
Children are no longer spending time playing outside. Today’s kids spend six and
a half hours a day “plugged into” electronic media.1 Research shows that children
are spending half as much time outside as they did 20 years ago.2 Meanwhile, the
“When children become

childhood obesity rate has more than doubled and the adolescent obesity rate has
truly engaged with the
tripled. Doctors warn that, for the first time in American history, life expectancy
may actually decrease because of the health impacts of the current childhood
natural world at a young

obesity epidemic.3 In his 2005 book, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv
age, the experience is likely
described this American trend. He gave this alarming problem a powerful name.
Today’s kids suffer from a “nature deficit.” 4
to stay with them in a
powerful way – shaping
Why We Keep Our Kids Indoors
The contributors to nature deficit are broad: fear of strangers; traffic hazards and a
their subsequent

lack of safe open space; liability; concerns about insect bites, bee stings, and itchy
environmental path.”
—Professor Nancy Wells, plants; and competition for outdoor time from video games and electronic media.
Cornell University
Stranger Danger
Many parents are concerned about strangers harming children in public spaces,
but the stark reality is that kids may be safer playing outdoors than at home
surfing the Internet. Although the risk of stranger abduction is very remote, and
stranger danger incidents have actually decreased over the last 20 years, many
parents and caregivers have decided that it is just too dangerous for children to be
outside on their own—especially if the child is out of sight. Many parents allow
5

their children to play indoors on the Internet unsupervised even though one out of
five children (10 to 17 years old) receive unwanted sexual solicitations while
surfing online. Nearly one-third of teens have talked about meeting someone in
6

person who they have only met through the Internet; 12% of teens have agreed to
meet a stranger that they met online. Sixty percent have filled out questionnaires



and given their personal
information, such as address,
8
telephone number, and school name.
Children who use the Internet are also
more likely to be exposed to
inappropriately sexual or violent
content. “Nine out of 10 children
between eight and 15 have viewed
inappropriate content on the Internet,
often unintentionally while doing
homework or filesharing with friends.” 7

Traffic & Lack of
Open Space
Children have fewer outdoor places to
play in general, and in existing green
areas, few kids can bike or walk to
their play areas without facing

©ShutterStock
dangerous traffic hazards. Safe, natural
areas for children to play outdoors The lack of urban planning over the past decades has reduced green space and access
have significantly decreased over the to nature in neighborhoods.
last 20 years.8 A recent report tracked
the space that children were allowed to to walk or bike to school by age ten, Liability
roam over four generations. As an compared to 56% of the parents who Even in areas where children are
eight-year-old in 1926, the great- walked or biked to school when they allowed to play, many of their
grandfather was allowed to roam for were ten.10 Road traffic interferes with activities have been severely limited
six miles unaccompanied. In 2007, his safe outside play opportunities, and it by fears of liability for injuries.
eight-year-old great-grandson could has been deemed “the one universal Homeowners’ associations often
only go 300 yards from home on his factor above all others” that has limited prevent kids from participating in
own. In fact, the space that children children’s physical space in which to traditional ways in nature – fort-
have to roam around freely has play.11 Yet, policies that promote building, playing in ditches, and
decreased by 88% since 1970. 9 Only walking and biking in communities digging in the dirt to make mud pies.
36% of today’s parents allow their kids actually increase pedestrian safety.12 In some outdoor summer camps,
children aren’t allowed to climb
trees.13 In other green areas, well-
meaning adults often admonish kids
who go off the trail to explore. In the
Know the FACTS
few school systems that still offer
recess, many districts have
R es e ar c h S ho ws :
n Spending time outdoors can lessen the symptoms of
significantly curtailed outdoor
Attention Deficit Disorder/ADHD.
n Viewing nature from a window can increase girls’ activities because of liability concerns
associated with “active play” such as
concentration and self-discipline.
n Time playing in natural green spaces can improve tag. Other school districts have
removed outdoor playground
motor skills, including coordination.
n Environmental education can increase science test equipment like swings and seesaws
scores.
from fear of lawsuits. 14
n 30 minutes outside a day can result in a better
©ShutterStock

nights’ sleep.
Sources: (Fjortoft 2004); (Touchette 2007); (Taylor 2001).



For example, pre-schoolers who
watch violent television tend to be
“I like to play indoors better
9
more antisocial and aggressive during
‘cause that’s where all the
school years.20 electric outlets are.”

Bugs, Bites, Stings,
– A Fourth Grader in San Diego.

and Itchy Plants can excel at academics, athletics or
Many parents are concerned about specialties.” The media, the
26

bugs, bee stings, poison ivy, and other marketing of children’s toys and so-
hazards.21 These concerns are very called educational products, and the
manageable. Long sleeved shirts and increasingly rigorous college
insect repellent can protect from bugs admission process contribute to this
and mosquito-borne illnesses. Poison hyper-parenting phenomenon.27 As a
oak and poison sumac are readily result, today’s children are feeling
recognizable, and the right clothing more stress, more anxiety, and more
can help limit exposure to these itchy pressure to be perfect. From piano
plants. lessons to soccer practice, many of
today’s kids shuttle back and forth
The Overscheduled Child from activity to activity and have very
©ShutterStock

The good news is that today’s few chances for outdoor play.
Children’s time outside has decreased generation of parents is often more
by 50% over the last 20 years.
focused and more family-oriented What is at Stake?
than that of the baby boomer The Health of Our
Video Games and generation.22 These parents are making Children
Electronic Media conscious decisions to spend more Children are not spending time
As kids spend more time “plugged in” time with their family. The bad news outdoors, which results in severe
to electronic media, outdoor time has is that in the quest to be perfect impacts on their mental and physical
decreased by 50% and childhood parents, today’s parents may be health. The medical community has
obesity has skyrocketed. According to unaware of the importance of play. declared that “play (or some available
the Kaiser Family Foundation, today’s free time in the case of older children
children spend an average of six and a Many children’s lives are way over- and adolescents) is essential to the
half hours a day using media – scheduled, and, like adults, they are cognitive, physical, social, and
including TV, computers, DVD involved in too many activities.23 The emotional well-being of children and
players, and mp3 players. Over a medical community observed in a youth.”28 Because of the important
seven-day week, kids log in around 44 2007 study that kids are often “being health benefits of play, the American
hours of media use – close to a full- raised in an increasingly hurried and Academy of Pediatrics has
time job worth of input. Eight- to 10- pressured style that may limit the recommended that children spend 60
15

year-olds watch an average of more protective benefits they would gain minutes each day in unstructured play
than four hours of TV a day. The from child-driven play.” The time.29 The CDC recommends that
16 24

University of Michigan has found a American Academy of Pediatrics children and adolescents participate in
50% decrease in outdoor time over the warns that overscheduling of children at least 60 minutes of moderate
last 20 years. The more television a is becoming the “culture and even intensity physical activity most days
17

child watches, the less time the child expectation of parents.” Dr. Alvin of the week.30
25

spends outside playing. Research Rosenfeld has termed this cultural
18

shows that playing video games and phenomenon “hyper-parenting,” Yet, for many American children, the
watching TV has negative impacts on which “compels parents to become experience of playing outdoors is at
physical health, and violent media relentlessly self-sacrificing, enrolling risk of going extinct.31 Today’s kids
content negatively impacts children. children in activities so early so they spend six and a half hours a day
19



“plugged in” to some form of outdoors does not emphasize winning
electronic media, and children have or losing.36 Some doctors also fear
10
decreased their time outdoors by 50% that families experience additional
since 1981.32 Children ages three to 12 stress levels when their ultra-
spend one percent of their time competitive children’s sports
outdoors, but they spend 27 percent of schedules require travel to away
their time just watching TV.33 games.37 Furthermore, doctors warn
Incredibly, children are now actually that parents should not simply rely on
gaining weight over summer break, a organized sports to ensure kids get
time most often associated with enough physical activity. Instead, the
outdoor activities like swimming, medical community urges parents to
hiking, and simply playing outside.34 exercise with their children in the
This lack of unstructured free time outdoors to promote an active, healthy
outdoors has serious consequences for lifestyle.38
children’s health.
The Physical Health
Outdoor Play is Different Impacts: Outdoor
than Participating in “Play” Instead of
Organized Sports Exercise

©ShutterStock
Although participation in organized Given the positive associations
sports is beneficial to children for a connected to outdoor play and
The American Academy of Pediatrics
variety of health reasons, it does not negative connotation with “exercise,” recommends 60 minutes of daily
have the same impact as unstructured experts recommend that we change unstructured free play as essential to
free play outside. Often children the terminology to get kids to exercise children’s physical and mental health.
spend more time on the sidelines than outside. Instead of using the term
playing in the game. In contrast, play “exercise,” we need to encourage including higher risks of
outside involves everyone.35 Play children to “play.”39 cardiovascular disease, diabetes, bone
outside enhances children’s critical and joint problems, and sleep apnea.
43

thinking skills and creativity. Unlike Lack of Play Time Outdoors Overweight children often become
organized sports, unstructured play is Linked to Childhood overweight adults, and the effect of
Obesity obesity on adult health is profound.
There is growing concern that Doctors warn that without
children’s lack of time outdoors is unstructured play time, today’s kids
linked to the national obesity are growing up with depression, and
Know the FACTS
epidemic. The prevalence of anxiety, and have become
Research shows: 40

overweight children ages six to 11 has increasingly overweight.44
more than doubled in the last 20
C h ild r en wh o

years, increasing from 7% in 1980 to Kids who Play Outdoors Play
p la y o ut s id e
n Play more creatively
n Have lower stress levels 18.8% in 2004. The rate among Harder, have Better Motor
n Have more active adolescents aged 12 to 19 more than Development, and are
imaginations tripled, increasing from 5% to Generally More Fit
17.1%. Doctors warn that, for the Research shows that kids who play
41
n Become fitter and leaner
n Develop stronger immune first time in American history, life outdoors play harder and get more
systems expectancy may actually decrease exercise.45 Scientists have shown that
n Have greater respect for because of the health impacts of the kids who play outdoors are generally
current childhood obesity epidemic. more fit than those who spend the
42
themselves, for others, and
for the environment Overweight and obese children suffer majority of their time inside.46 Kids
Sources: (Fjortoft 2004); (Burdette & Whitaker 2005). from a myriad of health problems, who play outside in natural areas also



showed a statistically significant
improvement in motor fitness with
11
better coordination, balance, and
agility.47 The “richness and novelty” of
being outdoors also stimulates brain
development.48

Outdoor Play May Help Kids
Get Better Sleep
The National Institutes of Health
recommends 30 minutes outside daily
for better sleep, and studies indicate
that children’s play outside can
improve sleep.49 Half of all

©Shutterstock.
adolescents get less than seven hours
of sleep on weeknights.50 Insufficient
sleep during childhood can cause The Mental Health Lessens the Symptoms
permanent changes in a child’s brain Impacts: More Time of ADHD
structure, and some scientists believe Outside, Less Anxiety Over two million children in the U.S.
that “many of the hallmark have been diagnosed with Attention
characteristics of being a tweener and While today’s children are exposed to Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
a teen – moodiness, depression, and more images of nature through the (ADHD). Children with ADHD are
even binge eating – are actually Internet and television than previous restless, have trouble paying attention,
symptoms of chronic sleep generations, they are missing out on listening, following directions, and
deprivation.”51 For toddlers especially, the benefits of a direct experience with focusing on tasks.58 Research has shown
a lack of sleep can have serious nature.54 Time spent in nature has an that spending time outdoors reduces the
consequences. Research has shown intense psychological effect on severity of symptoms of children with
that less than 10 hours a night of sleep children. “The non-human ADHD.59 The greener a child’s play
for toddlers “is associated with environment, far from being of little or area, the less severe the ADHD
externalizing problems such as no account to human personality symptoms. Even indoor settings with
Hyperactivity-impulsivity (HI) and development, constitutes one of the windows may be more supportive for
lower cognitive performance on most basically important ingredients of ADHD kids than indoor settings
neurodevelopment tests.”52 Obesity human psychological existence.”55 without windows.60 Researchers have
has been linked to sleep disorders in Exposure to nature has many short- also found that even short walks in
children, and exercise has been shown term benefits on children’s green settings such as urban parks
to dramatically reduce sleep problems psychological and physical well-being. increases concentration in sufferers of
in affected children. In one recent Being in nature engages all five senses ADHD and lessens other ADHD related
study, for example, half of the and therefore affects childhood symptoms.61
participating children who engaged in maturation very strongly. Nature is
56

daily outdoor play for 40 minutes also continuously dynamic and Promotes Self-Confidence
found that their snoring went away in unstable, which heightens awareness and Improves Concentration
three months. while observing wildlife and Children who spend time playing
53

experiencing the outdoors. Research outside are more likely to take risks,
shows that “direct, ongoing experience seek out adventure, develop self-
of nature in relatively familiar settings confidence and respect the value of
remains a vital source for children’s nature.62 Outdoor recreation
physical, emotional, and intellectual experiences like camping can improve
development.” children’s self-esteem.63 Green spaces
57



outside the home – including stress. In a 2003 survey, 73% of
67

views of nature from windows – can children said that participating in
"When one tugs at a single
12
increase concentration, inhibition of outdoor activities allows them to
thing in nature, he finds it

initial impulses, and self-discipline.64 connect with themselves. 83% of
children said that getting into a natural
attached to the rest of the

Stimulates Creativity and setting allows them to escape the
world."

Problem-Solving Skills pressures of everyday life.68 Just —John Muir, Naturalist

Unstructured play outdoors also viewing nature reduces physiological
promotes creativity and problem- stress response, increases levels of developing. Health effects include
solving skills, because all play interest and attention, and decreases asthma, allergy attacks, headaches,
requires “solving some form of social feelings of fear and anger or and even cancer.
72

problem, such as deciding what to aggression.69
play, who can play, when to start, Costs to Outdoor Recreation
when to stop, and the rules of The Economy Industry from Reduced Visits
engagement.”65 Public Health Costs Due to to Parks, Declining Interest
Obesity and Indoor Air in Hunting and Fishing, and
Pollution Fewer Excursions in the
Given the connection between nature Outdoors
deficit and childhood obesity, the The active outdoor recreation
economic toll on our public health economy contributes $730 billion
system is significant. According to the annually to the U.S. economy.
National Academy of Sciences, Outdoor recreation supports six and a
national healthcare costs for obese half million jobs in the U.S., and
and overweight adults alone range generates $88 billion in annual state
from $98 billion to $129 billion and national tax revenue, and $289
annually. “Obesity-associated annual billion annually in retail sales and
hospital costs for children and youth services in the country.73 A continued
more than tripled over two decades, nature deficit could substantially
rising from $35 million in 1979-1981 impact this profitable sector of the
to $127 million in 1997-1999.”70 U.S. economy.
©ShutterStock

The economic toll associated with In 2006, 87 million Americans spent
children’s exposure to indoor air approximately $120 billion enjoying
Time in nature increases concentration
for students. pollution, including mold, radon, recreational activities relating to fish
nitrogen oxides, tobacco smoke, and and wildlife. This spending equates to
Reduces Stress and dust, is also significant. The costs to about 1% of gross domestic product,
Aggression public health systems and of lost which means that one out of every
Time spent in green spaces, including productivity due to indoor air 100 dollars of all goods and services
parks, play areas, and gardens, has pollution amount to an estimated $45 produced in the U.S. is associated
been shown to reduce stress and billion per year for the State of with wildlife recreation. Anglers and
mental fatigue. At least one study California alone. Air quality inside is hunters spent $75.4 billion in 2006,
66 71

examined kids in inner city urban often worse than outside, even in with an average of $2,225 per person
areas of similar income, education, major cities. Some indoor pollutants in 2006.74
and family situations, who live in are two to 50 times higher in
public housing. Children who were concentration indoors than outdoors. Unfortunately, hunting and angling
exposed to greener environments in Children are particularly vulnerable to activities have rapidly decreased over
the public housing area demonstrated the effects of indoor air pollution the last 20 years. Overall hunting
less aggression, violence, and mental because their immune systems are participation dropped 10% from 1996



businesses are at risk for revenue Instilling a Long-Term
losses, too. In 2004, recreation Environmental Ethic in
“Environmental Education
77 13
workers held about 310,000 jobs. Our Youth
can help a struggling student

According to the Bureau of Labor Direct childhood experience in
Statistics, about 35% of year-round nature before age 11 promotes a
become a competent

recreation workers are employed by long-term connection to nature.81
student, and a competent

local governments, mostly in park and Studies of British environmental
recreation departments.78 A continued educators; a comparison of
student grow into a star.”
Kevin Coyle,
NWF Vice President for Education nature deficit would result in even interviews with American and
more local recreation budget cutbacks, Norwegian environmental activists;
to 2006. This trend could hurt the thereby perpetuating nature deficit by and comprehensive analysis of El
economy if it continues since hunters reducing the already limited number Salvadoran environmental
spent nearly $23 billion on trips, of local green areas for children to professionals demonstrate that
equipment, licenses, and other items experience. childhood contact with nature is
to support their hunting activities in essential to shaping a lasting
2006. Likewise, the number of anglers Loss of Potential environmental ethic and an interest
is decreasing. From 1996 to 2006, the Conservation Savings in environmental professions.82
number of anglers 16 years old and According to calculations by the Organizations like the Scouts,
above decreased 15%. Fishing in the National Environmental Education environmental education programs,
Great Lakes dropped 30% in the same Foundation, improved environmental and Outward Bound-type programs
time period. In Alaska, one of the knowledge could result in $76 billion during the teen years also serve as
most popular states for hunting and in savings to the national economy formative experiences in creating a
fishing, recreational fishing decreased from energy conservation and sustained ethic of environmental
by 26% and recreational hunting environmentally friendly behaviors. stewardship.83
decreased by 24%. Nationally, fishing Without effective environmental
related spending decreased by 16% in education for tomorrow’s leaders, and The connections between childhood
the last 10 years. One positive trend is without children who want to connect nature experiences and adult
that wildlife watching has increased to the natural world, however, the environmental attitude are not
13%. Wildlife-watching Americans nation could lose out on this unique to environmental
spent $45 billion in 2003 on their considerable annual savings.79 professionals.84 A recent study
activities.75 investigated the impacts of
The Future of American
In addition to dwindling sales of Conservation
hunting and fishing goods and Exploring the Great
services, state hunting and fishing Outdoors is a Special
license sales have plummeted. Many American Cultural Value
states rely on millions of dollars from In a recent national survey, 92% of
license fees to protect threatened Americans responded that they “love
animal populations and control other to be outdoors,” and 91% believed that
menacing populations like deer. If the today’s children are not spending
sales continue to decline, state enough time outside. Exploring the
80

resource agencies will be hit hard and outdoors is part of the American

may be unable to keep up many experience. From the redwood forests
important conservation activities. to the Gulf Stream waters, Americans
76

connect to the diverse landscapes of
Visits to our national parks have our country. If we lose this nature-child
decreased 25% over the last 15 years, connection, we will lose a special part Teaching basic critical thinking skills
through nature studies is a key
and park associated recreation of our national culture and identity. component for professional success.


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