Family Health
DIAGNOSIS:
Nature Deficit Disorder CURE:
Get Outside! Compared to your own childhood, do you think your kids spend less time outdoors?
Nature Deficit Disorder – a phrase first coined by Richard Louv in 2005 – is not a medical diagnosis, but its effect on health is certainly noticeable. Spending too much time indoors, under artificial light and in limited company, results in diminished use of the senses, increasing short-sightedness, vitamin D deficiency, and reduced resilience and ability to cope with stress. Luckily, there is a cure – get outside!
A dose of “Vitamin N” Being outdoors is so GOOD for kids, with benefit that last a lifetime. Here are some of the positive effects Vitamin N (for Nature!) can have on your kids. PROBLEM SOLVING Outside play sparks a child’s imagination and creativity. There are endless ways to play outdoors, and as props are created from their surroundings, their problem-solving skills are developing. STIMULATE THE SENSES What an amazing array of sights, sounds, smells, and textures to explore in nature! From sunset reflections on water to multicoloured birds, the sough of wind through branches to frog calls, the petrichor of wet earth to the scent of wild flowers, and the feel of rough bark to grass under bare feet. What way to stimulate and develop the senses! PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Climbing, sliding, leaping, and swinging through the great outdoors – with heaps of fresh air to oxygenate the muscles – has an immense benefit to physical health and development. All that movement will also develop coordination, gross motor skills, and balance. And your child will be having so much fun they won’t even realise they’re exercising! COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT Assessing heights and distances, observing weather and wildlife activity, noticing changes in trees from season to season – they’re all subtle ways your child is developing cognition and awareness. Your child will feel more connected to the environment, leading to healthier choices as they grow.
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RESILIENCE Being outdoors often throws up challenges. There may be no immediate bathroom access, no snacks or water tap, a sudden rain shower or drop in temperature, a bump or scrape that can’t be immediately tended… Coping with these minor challenges will help your child learn to cope with bigger challenges later in life.
Outdoor adventures There’s a great big wonderful world of adventure waiting to be discovered, but adventures can be small too! Here are some of our favourite ways to enjoy spending time in nature.
Your Local Families Magazine April / May 2022 www.familiesmagazine.com.au