Nature Conservancy Urges Parents To Take Their Kids Outdoors — Growing Research Shows ‘Nature-Deficit Disorder’ Negatively Affects Children’s Health

SAN ANTONIO With the arrival of the summer holidays, The Nature Conservancy of Texas reminds parents across the state that children who play outdoors and spend time in nature are happier and healthier. A growing body of research shows that children throughout the developed world are spending far less time outdoors than ever before, with potential consequences for childhood health and fitness issues.

“The overuse of electronic forms of entertainment can have adverse effects on the physical and emotional health of our children if they don’t balance those sedentary activities by spending adequate time playing outdoors,” said Dr. Joseph Goldzieher, a retired San Antonio endocrinologist and longtime member of The Nature Conservancy.

“For example, rampant childhood obesity, caused in part by inactivity, is a major contributor to the rise of both juvenile and adult-onset diabetes in children, and this has been a troubling and growing problem in Texas in recent years.”

Dr. Goldzieher adds that in addition to being less active and prone to obesity, children of the digital age who don’t spend time enjoying and playing in nature may display higher levels of stress, reduced ability to concentrate and less aptitude for creative problem solving – a non-scientific, social condition dubbed “nature-deficit disorder” by journalist Richard Louv in his popular book, “Last Child in the Woods.”

“Now that summer is here and children are out of school, parents need to redouble their efforts to get their young ones outside to play in nature,” Dr. Goldzieher said. “It will improve both their physical and mental health. Even if families are unable to take extended outdoor trips this summer, simple activities such as taking kids to a local park or a hike near their home on a regular basis will make a world of difference.”

Ongoing research supported by The Nature Conservancy, by professors Oliver Pergams, assistant professor of biological studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Patricia Zardiac, a fellow with the Environmental Leadership Program, point to a dramatic decrease in camping, backpacking, fishing, hiking, hunting and visits to public parks in recent years. Their studies suggest that since 1981, nature-related activities have declined between 18 percent and 25 percent, with a per capita decline in nature recreation of between 1 and 1.3 percent per year.

“Nearly everyone I talk to who supports wildlife conservation fondly recalls a love and appreciation for nature he or she developed as a child,” said Jeff Francell, director of land and water protection for The Nature Conservancy of Texas, and the father of two daughters, ages 4 and 6.

“If we lose our connection to the natural world, we’ll lose our understanding of the source of our food, our clean water and our clean air,” said Francell, who is based in Austin. “Over generations, without a personal awareness of what nature provides, we are not likely to feel compelled or even to understand how to protect it.”

Dr. Goldzieher said his personal experience illustrates how exposure to nature early in life can profoundly affect one’s view of the world. “Summer camping as a pre-teen and teenager was a life-changing experience for me,” he said.