Outside Reading #2 - Rachel Carter

The twenty first century, with its appreciation of nature, yet lack of time rejoicing in the outdoors, has led experts to diagnosis the up and coming generation with “Nature Deficit Disorder.” Originally coined by Richard Louv in his book “Last Child in the Wood,” the term proposes that today’s youth has lost touch with nature. The author Richard Louv says children are spending a tremendous amount of time indoors, and when they do go outside, they are typically on their way to football practice or similar structured activity. Consequently, kids are out of touch with the true outdoors - fields, streams and woods.

Louv is a great advocate for curing this so called Nature Deficit Disorder. Although the book drags a little the last 40 pages or so, it's only because Louv has already won you over to his argument. Parents, educators, therapists and city officials can benefit from taking seriously Louv’s call for a "nature-child reunion." Thank goodness someone dared to write a book about how detrimental it can be for children to spend all of their waking hours indoors. I believe it's just what this current tech-obsessed society needs to be informed about.