Does your child have "nature deficit disorder"?

“NDD” was coined with tongue in cheek but it does point out a recent problem that children and parents are experiencing across the nation. A back-to-nature movement to reconnect children with the outdoors is sweeping the nation. Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder has been a catalyst for organizations nationwide to seek new ways to connect children with outdoor experiences. Research shows that getting kids out into nature increases their physical activity level, reduces loneliness, depression and attention problems and is essential to their cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being. Conversely, children suffer health problems, including obesity, from too much sedentary time indoors with TV and computers. <MORE>