Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From NatureDeficit Disorder

The Book That Launched an International MovementFans of The Anxious Generation will adore Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louvs groundbreaking New York Times bestseller. An absolute mustread for parents. The Boston GlobeIt rivals Rachel Carsons Silent Spring. The Cincinnati EnquirerI like to play indoors better cause thats where all the electrical outlets are, reports a fourth grader. But its not only computers, television, and video games that are keeping kids inside. Its also their parents fears of traffic, strangers, Lyme disease, and West Nile virus; their schools emphasis on more and more homework; their structured schedules; and their lack of access to natural areas. Local governments, neighborhood associations, and even organizations devoted to the outdoors are placing legal and regulatory constraints on many wild spaces, sometimes making natural play a crime.As childrens connections to nature diminish and the social, psychological, and spiritual implications become apparent, new research shows that nature can offer powerful therapy for such maladies as depression, obesity, and attention deficit disorder. Environmentbased education dramatically improves standardized test scores and gradepoint averages and develops skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and decision making. Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that childhood experiences in nature stimulate creativity.In Last Child in the Woods, Louv talks with parents, children, teachers, scientists, religious leaders, childdevelopment researchers, and environmentalists who recognize the threat and offer solutions. Louv shows us an alternative future, one in which parents help their kids experience the natural world more deeplyand find the joy of family connectedness in the process.Included in this edition:A Field Guide with 100 Practical Actions We Can Take Discussion Points for Book Groups, Classrooms, and Communities Additional Notes by the Author New and Updated Research from the U.S. and Abroad