Nature-Deficit and the Third Frontier

Louv's arguments in the readings, "Gifts of Nature", "The Third Frontier", and "Nature-Deficit Disorder and the Restorative Environment definitely seem plausible. Even from when I grew up, things have changed. I ensure my kids spend time outdoors everyday. Normally, they enjoy the time but there are days when my seven year old daughter argues she would rather play computer games or on her hand held Nintendo DSi. Even my three year old cannot contain himself from asking to play a game on my iPhone while we are outdoors. Even I have become subjected to this nature-deficit. I went from being seven years old playing in the woods behind my house, stomping through the creek in my backyard, and jumping in the neighborhood lake to forcing myself to take my own children outside everyday. I agree with Louv in that today my children and I don't even know our neighbors name much less have neighborhood kids knocking on my door asking them to play. There are too many dangers nowadays to allow children to explore on their own. When I was younger, we always had a group of three to ten neighbor kids running around together.

In this third frontier (as Louv states) that my children are growing up in, the schools put more emphasis on learning computers and math then their connection to nature and the outdoors. I like the example Louv uses in "Gifts of Nature" of the little boy stating computers are where the jobs are, not nature. Society tells us don't waste your time in nature if you want to be successful.


Unfortunately, it is hard not to succumb to the new ideas of technology and such. I am majoring in Computer Information Systems because as the young boy in Louv's reading said, that's where the money is. We can remedy the problem in simple ways like enjoy nature and the outdoors with your kids for at least an hour per day. On the weekends, encourage outdoor activities such as nature walks and the beach. Whenever I find myself absorbed in my school or work so much, the kids are not spending enough time outside, I take a step back and remind myself of what is really important. Teach your children the importance of nature and technology so they can continue to pass the knowledge to generations to come.