Children & Nature Network - February 08, 2010
The Children & Nature Network (C&NN) was created to encourage and support the people and organizations working worldwide to reconnect children with nature. C&NN provides access to the latest news and research in the field and a peer-to-peer network of researchers and individuals, educators and organizations dedicated to children's health and well-being.
New Study Finds Kids Online 7.5 Hours a Day
The average young American now spends practically every waking minute—except for the time in school—using a smart phone, computer, television, or other electronic device, according to a new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The study also found a link between heavy media use and several negatives, including behavior problems and lower grades.
Built Environment
New York Playground Designed to Combat Nature-Deficit Disorder
The principal landscape architect of a new $3.8 million playground in New York City is being congratulated for consulting experts in cognitive development before deciding where to plant trees in the new state-of-the-art park. The experts noted that kids respond more creatively to natural environments than to excessively groomed ones, so the architect responded with a more complex layout to foster imaginative play. [+]
Health
"Nature Starvation" Worries British Royal Society
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Europe's largest wildlife conservation charity, says it has uncovered a worrying trend of "nature starvation" among young Britons. The society surveyed 1,000 people, and found that only a third of those under 35 feel connected to the natural world, compared with more than half of those over 35. [+]
Built Environment
Benefits of "Park Prescriptions" Noted in Washington Post
Support within the medical community is growing for the the use of nature experiences as a healing aid. Physician Daphne Miller, writing in the Washington Post, notes that doctors around the country are medicating their patients with nature in order to prevent (or treat) health problems ranging from heart disease to attention deficit disorder. [+]
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Includes updated research, a progress report on the movement and an all new "Field Guide" with 100 practical actions we can take and 35 discussion points for book groups, classrooms, and communities.
As part of our ongoing efforts to build the movement, the Children & Nature Network has published two new resources for leaders, organizers, and participants at the local, national, and international levels: