I recently came accross an article which mentioned a condition known as Nature Deficit Disorder. Being of a somewhat sceptical nature I assumed that this was some quack fashionable diagnosis for people with more money than sense. Looking into it some more however, I admit that there was a bit of a rush to judgment on my part.

Richard Louv is a respected writer who has published books and articles on community and family life. He writes  mainly about peoples’ relationship with nature. In his book, Child Lost in the Woods, published to hugh acclaim in the U.S. in 2005, he describes a condition which he calls Nature Deficit Disorder.

His basic premise is that the children of today are so protected that many rarely explore the environment beyond a few yards of their home. As a result their interaction with nature is severely limited. Some children never get to experience the smells of the countryside. They may not notice the changing colours of the seasons, they may never have been stung by an insect. They definitely do not get to play with the kind of abandon their parents would have experienced as children.

It is the case that parents are trying to protect their children from such things as traffic, drugs, lurking strangers or possible abduction. But Louv believes that overprotection carries with it its own risks. Certainly if you look at increasing obesity rates in children and the boredom and low mood in some children, Louv has a strong case to make.

I’m looking  forward to the publication of his book in Europe as I think he is covering a fascinating area that I would like to know more about. I will reserve judgment on the disorder claim until later, but I believe there must be some consequence to the sedentary lifestyle of the children of today.

If you would like to know more about  Richard Louv  you can visit his website here.