Nature Deficit Disorder and the Restorative Environment

Nature Deficit Disorder is hypothesis by Richard Louv that behavioral problems are arising in young children as a result of lack of contact with nature and the outdoors.

On page 2 of the University Colloquium Reader, Louv says "nearly 8 million children in the U.S suffer from mental disorders, and ADHD is one of the more prevalent ones." It is a disorder that develops normally before age seven and its symptoms include restlessness, trouble paying attention, and even aggressiveness. The disorder is generally treated by stimulant medications that have been controversial and highly over prescribed.

"In the United States, as the federal and state governments and local school boards have pushed for higher test scores in the first decade of the twenty-first century, nearly 40 percent of the American elementary schools either eliminated or were considering eliminating recess." (Louv, 1)

• This quote utterly disgusted me for two reasons. The first being that school districts would consider cutting out such an imperative point in a daily schedule for small children, especially with childhood obesity at such a high and growing rate. The second being the truth that lies in it. In today's society, schools are more focused on their letter grade than their student's wellbeing.

The "Restorative Environment"

Attention-Restoration Theory, developed by Stephen and Rachel Kaplan, was inspired by William James, a philosopher and psychologist, who described both directed attention and fascination. The Kaplans began a nine-year study where they followed participants on an Outward Bound-like wilderness program. Subjects reported feeling more at peace and clearer thinking while a participating in this study.

Subsequent research has been done in support of the Kaplans' theory. "In 2001, Hartig demonstrated that nature can help people recover from 'normal psychological wear and tear' - but nature also improves the capacity to pay attention." (Louv, 6)

• I agree with this quote and I feel as though this class can be a good example of that. I enjoy that we get to learn about nature and read excerpts from various others as well as other supplemental material in the classroom, but we also get the opportunity to go out into the environment and apply it firsthand. While on the campus trails, I fully embraced the experience and felt very relaxed and clear headed, even while knee deep in dark brown water.

Nature's Ritalin

Many researchers have looked at children in varying day-care situations to see how their environment affects their daily activity and behavior. Not surprisingly, children in a more "green" environment have better physical and mental acuity.

Green activities can include anything outdoors and regarding nature, such as camping and fishing.
Non-green activities include things that are inside, such as television, video games, and homework.

Researchers at the Human-Environment Research Laboratory find that behavioral and nature therapy may teach the youth how to visualize positive experiences in nature when they need to utilize a calming tool.

Louv concludes with, "This we know: As the sign over Albert Einstein's office at Princeton University read, 'Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.' We don't have to wait for more, needed, research to act on common sense, or to give the gift of nature - even when it might seem to be too late."

• I would like to agree with Louv's statement, "We don't have  to wait for more, needed, research to act on common sense..." I feel as though a lot of people would like to agree with it, as well. However, too many people are making too much money off of the prescription drugs being given to these children for an easily solved problem. 

Touching the Sky with a Stick

Daniel Ybarra, a defense attorney, coordinated an alternative approach to punishment for a group of teenagers. The alternative approach being two weeks living with a tribe in Ketchikan, Alaska where they would be fully submerged in the outdoors. Although unconventional, the approach seemed to be very groundbreaking for the young kids. Lou finishes this section with, "Anyone who has spent much time around addicts or gang members understands how disarming - and manipulative - they can be. Yet on this afternoon, I saw no evidence of the con artist in their eyes. At least for a while - a day, a week, a year, or perhaps even a lifetime - they were changed."

• As much as I would like to agree with this emotionally driven statement, I would have to be a little more questioning than that. As many times as I've heard that people miraculously changing, it is never long-lasting. I agree with the alternative approach and I like that way of looking at the children's situation seeing as traditional punishment would do no better.