An epidemic

Through my job at REI, I've become a little bit more aware of a certain epidemic spreading across our great nation: nature deficit disorder. Sounds a bit overdramatic for something that doesn't seem that important, but as I've come to learn, this is serious business and something we should all take note of.

Nature deficit disorder refers the increasing amount of time that our children spend indoors and the decline in their participation in nature-based outdoor activities. If you read about the numbers here, you'll find that it's shocking. Exposure to nature and the outdoors not only positively supports a child's quality of life, but it leads to a smarter, more imaginative, cooperative child.

Both B and I had the great fortune to grow up with unlimited access to the outdoors--in our neighborhoods, at the farm, on vacation. So, naturally, we want the same for Kate. To that end, I have been taking her for walks in Tryon Creek State Park, a natural area about a mile from our house. She listens to birds, looks at trees, babbles at the trail as we stroll along. We're hoping we can raise a child who will ask us if she can go play outside. No, we want her to ask us when she gets to play outside again.

To read more about the benefits of time spent out with Mother Nature, visit this blog: The New Nature Movement.