GINLC Newsletter: Nature Deficit Disorder

At every opportunity, GINLC's longtime board member, Bruce Jones, brings up a subject that is very dear to his heart. He quotes from author Richard Louv's compelling book titled, Last Child in the Woods. In it, Louv concludes that today's children are suffering from a kind of "nature deficit disorder." This lack of caring about nature could alter the way future generations relate to and ultimately care for nature, wildlife, and the environment.

Do you remember how much time did you spent playing outside as a child? We need to do something to get our children or grandchildren off the couch and out the door to discover the wonders of the natural world.

According to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average American child (age 8 to 18 years) now spends some 44 hours per week staring at electronic screens television, video games. computers and cell phones. The National Wildlife Federation's Green Hour website (www.greenhour.org) has great ideas for parents and grandparents on how to reverse this trend.

Take a nature walk, go fishing, go on a bug hunt or watch your bird feeder. Go out and have a fun time, Grosse Ile is a wonderful place to do that.