“The Nature-Deficit Disorder and the Restorative Environment”

    In Richard Louv's book, Last Child in the Woods, the author expresses his beliefs that there is a strong link between the lack of nature in education and childhood obesity but perhaps a stronger link between the lack of physical exercise in young children and the decline of mental health in young children. Louv uses the facts concerning the decline of physical education and recess in the school system with the rise of mental health issues in children, particularly ADHD, to support his thesis. Whether Louv's beliefs are agreeable or not they are interesting to think about and enjoyable to read.

Photo provided by Goat Mountain on Flickr Oct. 23rd, 2014

    In the chapter "Nature-Deficit Disorder and the Restorative Environment" Louv states, "Much about ADHD remains a medical and political mystery (Louv, 2008 p.102)" and, as I have a son who is diagnosed with ADHD, I could not agree more. There have been some family doctors my son has seen who feel ADHD is highly misdiagnosed and is usually pushed on the medical community by the child's family to explain eccentric behavior. Other doctors my son has seen view ADHD as something very real, very common, and can be usually "cured" with simple medications. I have also read countless articles and watched many videos detailing what doctors believe increase ADHD symptoms and what decreases ADHD symptoms; to say the least, these beliefs vary. Politically, ADHD, what it is and how it can be managed, is all over the map as well. There are some people that occupy seats in office who believe children with ADHD need special accommodations and should be treated like children that suffer from any other mental disorder. Others in office believe it is a ploy by families to take advantage of a medically obsessed system to benefit from special privileges usually only given to those who suffer from more severe mental disorders. ADHD remains a question that too many people believe they have the answer to.

Photo provided by John Currle on Flickr Jan. 20th, 2007

    Further in the chapter Louv states, "The greener the setting, the more the relief. By comparison, activities indoors, such as watching TV, or outdoors in paved, non-green areas, increase these children’s symptoms (Louv, 2008 p.106)", suggesting that children who play outside, in more green locations not paved parks, can relieve the symptoms of attention deficit disorders. This statement I can not believe. Firstly, I would think it is not the outdoors that is relieving ADHD but rather the indoors, the lack of physical play and the constant attention to electronics that is making symptoms worse. If my son is constantly on the T.V. or tablet and then is suddenly told to concentrate on something else, something he does not want to apply effort to focus on, he will be less attentive. He will also more hyperactive, not because of his disorder, he is actually AHDH minus the hyperactivity, but because he has been cooped up in the house and not exerting physical energy. Secondly, I can not believe there is a difference between the advantages of parks, whether surrounded by buildings or trees. If a child is playing on a jungle gym surely whether there are trees surrounding the area or buildings is inconsequential regarding ADHD symptoms. Finally, how is this thesis even capable of being supported through research or experiment; there must be countless other variables. Do the children in New York City suffer from far worse ADHD symptoms than other children with ADHD in the mountains of Oregon? It seems like quite a jump to make such a conclusion.

Photo provided by Patrick Marella on Flickr April 24th, 2014

    And later in the chapter Louv agrees with a scientists who states, "nature is good for children (Louv, 2008 p.110) ." I do not have a degree in any field of science, however, I do have three children and I can concur with this statement as well. Children need to go outside and play, explore, wander, get dirty, and come back home once tired and ready to eat. Everyone should agree with this. But, this does not necessarily mean the outdoors is a cure for mental disorders nor is there a degree of benefit associated to how green the outdoors are, right? Surely, it is just nice to get some fresh air as opposed to staying inside staring at a screen as it stares back for countless hours. Surely, it is the harm of the indoors that is detrimental to human development not the benefit of the outdoors; if that makes sense.

Louv, R. (2008). Last Child in the Woods. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books.