Take a Child Outside Week was sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences from Sept. 24 to 30.
So why does that matter? It matters because there was a program created called “Take a Child Outside Week.”
The program aims to connect children to the natural world with the goal of keeping them more focused in school and reducing chances of obesity. It was designed to help break down obstacles that keep children from discovering the natural world. By giving parents and educators resources on outdoor activities, children can develop a better understanding and appreciation of the environment, according to the Take a Child Outside Week Web site.
This program directly ties in with what author Richard Louv called nature-deficit disorder in his book Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. The problem is that children are not hanging out and playing outside as much as they did in the past.
There has been a shift from the outdoors to virtual and interactive indoor playgrounds. People are beginning to take notice. If the majority of children continue down this path of they will miss out on outdoor education, as well as independence.
Many people see the problem of nature-deficit disorder as the end of nature. The final frontier is to regain our connection with nature and teach the disconnected how to reconnect and appreciate the world around them. There should not have to be programs called Take a Child Outside Week. We need to take back what we have lost and reignite the fire to learn about the wilderness and spend outdoor time.
As Thomas Berry said, “Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events in their lives.” |
