Outdoor play is essential for children's healthy development of mind, body and spirit. However, American children now spend much less time playing outside and more time engaged with electronic media and indoor activities. This shift has profound health impacts, including higher rates of obesity, vitamin D deficiency, myopia, and attention issues. Regular unstructured outdoor play, in contrast, is associated with improved concentration and school performance, stronger physical fitness, and reduced risk of various diseases. Reconnecting children with nature is critical for their well-being.
Three Ways Nature and Outdoor Time Improve Your Child’s Sleep: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) created the Be Out There movement to give back to American children what they don’t even know they have lost: their connection to the natural world. In the process, NWF aims to help reverse alarming health trends and help families raise happier, healthier children. Signs everywhere show the spirit of the movement taking hold.
For more information, go to www.beoutthere.org/join
Be Out There takes an in-depth look at how to balance screen time with green time in the report, Friending Fresh Air: Connecting Kids to Nature in a Digital Age. Here, we offer insight on how to use technology you already love and still connect your kids to nature.
This article illustrates how getting dirty outdoors benefits kids. Who would have thought something we spend so much time wiping, sweeping, and mopping away could be so good for kids’ health? Spending time outside is great for kids, and studies show that getting dirty while they’re out there might be even better. Studies have shown benefits to immune systems, hearts and skin, as well as kids’ emotional well-being and learning skills.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) created the Be Out There movement to give back to American children what they don’t even know they have lost: their connection to the natural world. In the process, NWF aims to help reverse alarming health trends and help families raise happier, healthier children. Signs everywhere show the spirit of the movement taking hold.
For more information, go to www.beoutthere.org/join
Offering sufficient outdoor time improves the overall health of our children while lengthening attention spans, diminishing aggressiveness, improving test scores and ultimately advancing learning. This guide addresses those concerns.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) created the Be Out There movement to give back to American children what they don’t even know they have lost: their connection to the natural world. In the process, NWF aims to help reverse alarming health trends and help families raise happier, healthier children. Signs everywhere show the spirit of the movement taking hold.
For more information, go to www.beoutthere.org/join
A Parent’s Guide to Overcoming Common Obstacles for Kids and Outdoor Play.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) created the Be Out There movement to give back to American children what they don’t even know they have lost: their connection to the natural world. In the process, NWF aims to help reverse alarming health trends and help families raise happier, healthier children. Signs everywhere show the spirit of the movement taking hold.
For more information, go to www.beoutthere.org/join
According to a 2012 survey of 1000 parents commissioned by National Wildlife Federation (NWF), weather topped the list of barriers to getting kids outdoors. Sixty-one percent of those surveyed cited weather as most problematic, over concerns about strangers (38%), homework (31%), and a busy schedule (5%).
Parents protect their kids; it’s their job. So, it’s natural when the weather turns really nasty or dangerous to keep children inside. But, children are far more adaptable, resilient and hearty than we modern parents give them credit for. Two decades ago, kids routinely ran in the sprinkler to cool off on a sweltering day, made igloos when it snowed, splashed in puddles when it rained. How many do that now? Not many, statistics say. Modern children spend only minutes each day outside in unstructured activities.
How Outdoor Education and Outdoor School Time Create High Performance Students.
In this report, we summarize the available studies on the role of outdoor learning programs and outdoor play time in furthering children’s overall education: improving their lifelong learning skills, prospects for career success and school test scores.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) created the Be Out There movement to give back to American children what they don’t even know they have lost: their connection to the natural world. In the process, NWF aims to help reverse alarming health trends and help families raise happier, healthier children. Signs everywhere show the spirit of the movement taking hold.
For more information, go to www.beoutthere.org/join
Nature deficit has had profound impacts on our children’s mental and physical health. Over the past 20 years, time spent playing outdoors has been cut in half, but the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled and the adolescent obesity rate has tripled.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) created the Be Out There movement to give back to American children what they don’t even know they have lost: their connection to the natural world. In the process, NWF aims to help reverse alarming health trends and help families raise happier, healthier children. Signs everywhere show the spirit of the movement taking hold.
For more information, go to www.beoutthere.org/join
Three Ways Nature and Outdoor Time Improve Your Child’s Sleep: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) created the Be Out There movement to give back to American children what they don’t even know they have lost: their connection to the natural world. In the process, NWF aims to help reverse alarming health trends and help families raise happier, healthier children. Signs everywhere show the spirit of the movement taking hold.
For more information, go to www.beoutthere.org/join
Be Out There takes an in-depth look at how to balance screen time with green time in the report, Friending Fresh Air: Connecting Kids to Nature in a Digital Age. Here, we offer insight on how to use technology you already love and still connect your kids to nature.
This article illustrates how getting dirty outdoors benefits kids. Who would have thought something we spend so much time wiping, sweeping, and mopping away could be so good for kids’ health? Spending time outside is great for kids, and studies show that getting dirty while they’re out there might be even better. Studies have shown benefits to immune systems, hearts and skin, as well as kids’ emotional well-being and learning skills.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) created the Be Out There movement to give back to American children what they don’t even know they have lost: their connection to the natural world. In the process, NWF aims to help reverse alarming health trends and help families raise happier, healthier children. Signs everywhere show the spirit of the movement taking hold.
For more information, go to www.beoutthere.org/join
Offering sufficient outdoor time improves the overall health of our children while lengthening attention spans, diminishing aggressiveness, improving test scores and ultimately advancing learning. This guide addresses those concerns.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) created the Be Out There movement to give back to American children what they don’t even know they have lost: their connection to the natural world. In the process, NWF aims to help reverse alarming health trends and help families raise happier, healthier children. Signs everywhere show the spirit of the movement taking hold.
For more information, go to www.beoutthere.org/join
A Parent’s Guide to Overcoming Common Obstacles for Kids and Outdoor Play.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) created the Be Out There movement to give back to American children what they don’t even know they have lost: their connection to the natural world. In the process, NWF aims to help reverse alarming health trends and help families raise happier, healthier children. Signs everywhere show the spirit of the movement taking hold.
For more information, go to www.beoutthere.org/join
According to a 2012 survey of 1000 parents commissioned by National Wildlife Federation (NWF), weather topped the list of barriers to getting kids outdoors. Sixty-one percent of those surveyed cited weather as most problematic, over concerns about strangers (38%), homework (31%), and a busy schedule (5%).
Parents protect their kids; it’s their job. So, it’s natural when the weather turns really nasty or dangerous to keep children inside. But, children are far more adaptable, resilient and hearty than we modern parents give them credit for. Two decades ago, kids routinely ran in the sprinkler to cool off on a sweltering day, made igloos when it snowed, splashed in puddles when it rained. How many do that now? Not many, statistics say. Modern children spend only minutes each day outside in unstructured activities.
How Outdoor Education and Outdoor School Time Create High Performance Students.
In this report, we summarize the available studies on the role of outdoor learning programs and outdoor play time in furthering children’s overall education: improving their lifelong learning skills, prospects for career success and school test scores.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) created the Be Out There movement to give back to American children what they don’t even know they have lost: their connection to the natural world. In the process, NWF aims to help reverse alarming health trends and help families raise happier, healthier children. Signs everywhere show the spirit of the movement taking hold.
For more information, go to www.beoutthere.org/join
Nature deficit has had profound impacts on our children’s mental and physical health. Over the past 20 years, time spent playing outdoors has been cut in half, but the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled and the adolescent obesity rate has tripled.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) created the Be Out There movement to give back to American children what they don’t even know they have lost: their connection to the natural world. In the process, NWF aims to help reverse alarming health trends and help families raise happier, healthier children. Signs everywhere show the spirit of the movement taking hold.
For more information, go to www.beoutthere.org/join
Do Your Kids Spend More Time on Media Devices Than Getting Active?jane arellano
Afterschool.ae is the largest dedicated provider of quality on-site after school activities, programs, tutoring, summer camps, sports and child care services in United Arab Emirates
Understanding How 'Screen Time' Affects Learning Lisa Guernsey
Presented in parts with Faith Rogow at NAEYC 2013, the annual meeting for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, in Washington, DC on November 23, 2013.
Technology is now accessible in almost every part of the world and it has completely changed the way we interact with one another. Though we’ve made many great technological advances, studies have shown that screen time can have an impact on your child’s development.
When considering short term loans, the good news is that there are lots of different repayment options which are available. Over the years short term loans have become increasingly more flexible which means that should you require one, the options available for repayment are varied thanks to a good selection of different terms.
Do Your Kids Spend More Time on Media Devices Than Getting Active?jane arellano
Afterschool.ae is the largest dedicated provider of quality on-site after school activities, programs, tutoring, summer camps, sports and child care services in United Arab Emirates
Understanding How 'Screen Time' Affects Learning Lisa Guernsey
Presented in parts with Faith Rogow at NAEYC 2013, the annual meeting for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, in Washington, DC on November 23, 2013.
Technology is now accessible in almost every part of the world and it has completely changed the way we interact with one another. Though we’ve made many great technological advances, studies have shown that screen time can have an impact on your child’s development.
When considering short term loans, the good news is that there are lots of different repayment options which are available. Over the years short term loans have become increasingly more flexible which means that should you require one, the options available for repayment are varied thanks to a good selection of different terms.
Our children will inherit a far more diverse and interconnected world than the one we live in today. As parents, we are responsible for equipping our children with the traits and skills required to succeed in such a globalized world. Raising global citizens is not only for families with big travel budgets. Here are 9 ways to raise your children to be globally-minded from the comfort of your own home.
Wooqer is a DIY platform, hence it can take any shape to accommodate any industry vertical. A representation, how it can be used as a 'student-teacher-parent' engagement platform at Schools.
Communities Putting Children First Programme (WS25)Iriss
Providing an interactive understanding of a new project run by Children 1ST which engages with and builds capacity within communities and families so that children and young people have safe environments in which they can grow up. Contributor: Children First
Get tips to deal your child positively and get importance of attending parent teacher meeting and how you be involved in their education. Get free tips and guidance.
This presentation will raise awareness of the connections between the health of young children and a healthy school environment, with emphasis on the benefits of exposure to the outdoors. It will show how these benefits can be strengthened through collaboration, including the efforts of the No Child Left Inside Coalition.
Children’s Nature Deficit: What We Know - and Don’t Know
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For more information, Please see websites below:
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Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
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Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
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Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
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Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
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Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
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City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
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Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110 ~
This project focused on Nature-Deficit Disorder in children. The author conducted a gardening project for children to connect with nature. The activities of the project included dirt preparation, potting, and planting.
This week our forum looks at the foundations of where we learn t.docxrowthechang
This week our forum looks at the foundations of where we learn to become parents. Please answer both parts within your initial posting. Remember to review grading feedback from previous week to improve your discussion this week. Follow the rubric when you develop your posting.
As for all forum questions, please use the forum question to guide your discussion and write your post in a paragraph(s) format. You do not want to repost the question and then insert your answer. Using references to support your work is important that correct APA format uses in-text citations.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
1. We learn parenting skills from many places. Perhaps our biggest influence on our attitude towards parenting is from our parents and how we were raised. We also are influenced by media, science, religion, and other sources. In your observation, how have any of these sources influenced parenting, in general, today
2. Pick a theory from this list (Erikson’s Lifespan Theory of Development, Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory of Development, Jean Piaget’s Constructivist Theory, or Socio-Culture Theory of Lev Vygotsky) and apply it to either how you were raised or how you will (would) raise your own children?
Initial posts are due by 11:59 PM on Wednesday
2 Reply posts are due by 11:59 PM on Sunday
https://edge.apus.edu/access/content/group/education-common/Universal/CHFD/331/elf/lesson-2/elf_index.html
As we learnt in Lesson 1, a parent’s own childhood and parenting experiences influence their parenting approach. In fact, when surveyed, over half of all parents admitted that their parenting style is greatly affected by the way they were parented themselves (Lerner & Ciervo, 2010). However, 30 percent of surveyed parents indicated that the way they were parented had a moderate impact on the personal parenting style. Although that amounts to just over 80 percent of surveyed parents, parents also have media, historical patterns, and scientific research to inform their parenting style. This lesson will first examine the influences on parental style and then will explore the many different theories that exist (and have historically evolved) regarding parenting.
Topics to be covered include:
· Influences on parenting style
· Theories on parenting style
· Theories on children’s growth and development
CONTINUE
Influences on Parental Style Besides Upbringing
· MEDIA
·
HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS
Media resources are a significant source of information for parents. Increased access to and the speed of technology has put a wide range of information within close reach of many parents—especially ones who have disposable incomes that permit internet access. Parents can easily look up parenting websites that can advise on topics such as developmental stages, how to soothe sick babies, and when to call the doctor. Websites can also highlight issues in parenting and childcare and encourage debates that make parents think.
Social me ...
The Manadoob Secret Connection Program for Self-Esteem provides a non-threatening environment for children to improve self-esteem while they learn and grow through the use of multi-cultural characters, animals, craft and imagination in the form of educational play. Academic skills in reading, writing, vocabulary, problem solving, observation, artistic expression and community outreach are enhanced. It’s fun and kids love it!!
In 2011, Denton ISD partnered with the local United Way organization and Ready Rosie to form an Early Childhood Coalition. The goal was to reach all parents and community members with tools that would get all 0-6 year olds ready for success in school. We reached all 10,000 families with MOBILE video content that went straight to their mobile devices. This session will share the data and success of
that coalition plus resources that can work in any community.
Harnessing nature to protect our communities.
"Natural Defenses in Action" highlights the important role that natural and nature-based approaches can play in reducing the mounting risks to our communities from weather and climate-related natural hazards. The report highlights how properly managed ecosystems and well-designed policies can help reduce disaster risk in ways that are good for both people and nature. "Natural Defenses in Action" profiles a dozen case studies that highlight best-in-class examples of how natural defenses are being put to use to avoid or reduce risks from flooding, coastal storms, erosion, and wildfire. It illustrates that harnessing nature to protect people and property is not just a good idea—it already is being done across the country!
A new report from the National Wildlife Federation looks at how 20 species that depend on a healthy Gulf are faring in the wake of the BP oil spill. The full extent of the spill’s impacts may take years or even decades to unfold, but Five Years & Counting: Gulf Wildlife in the Aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster examines what the science tells us so far.
Climate change already is having significant impacts on the nation’s species and ecosystems, and these effects are projected to increase considerably over time. As a result, climate change is now a primary lens through which conservation and natural resource management must be viewed. How should we prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change on wildlife and their habitats? What should we be doing differently in light of these climatic shifts, and what actions continue to make sense? Climate-Smart Conservation: Putting Adaptation Principles into Practice offers guidance for designing and carrying out conservation in the face of a rapidly changing climate.
Addressing the growing threats brought about or accentuated by rapid climate change requires a fundamental shift in the practice of natural resource management and conservation. Traditionally, conservationists have focused their efforts on protecting and managing systems to maintain their current state, or to restore degraded systems back to a historical state regarded as more desirable. Conservation planners and practitioners will need to adopt forward-looking goals and implement strategies specifically designed to prepare for and adjust to current and future climatic changes, and the associated impacts on natural systems and human communities—an emerging discipline known as climate change adaptation.
The field of climate change adaptation is still in its infancy. Although there is increasing attention focused on the subject, much of the guidance developed to date has been general in nature, concentrating on high-level principles rather than specific actions. It is against this backdrop that this guide was prepared as a means for helping put adaptation principles into practice, and for moving adaptation from planning to action.
MAKING CONSERVATION CLIMATE SMART
The fate of our wildlife and wild places depends on steps we take now to prepare for and cope with the growing impacts of a changing climate. While managers traditionally have looked to the past for inspiration, increasingly we will be faced with future conditions that may have no historical analogs.
Although climate adaptation will have costs, the cost of inaction—through continuing with business as usual—is likely to be far higher. Furthermore, the sooner we begin the task of planning for a climate-altered future and taking meaningful adaptation action, the more successful these efforts ultimately will be. It is imperative that natural resource managers begin to act now to prepare for and manage these changes, in order to provide the best chance for cherished conservation values to endure. Putting climate-smart conservation into practice can make a difference for sustaining our nation’s diverse species and ecosystems well into the future. Indeed, protecting our rich conservation legacy depends on our rising to this challenge.
This National Wildlife Federation report details how 14 Gulf wildlife species are faring in the wake of BP's 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster in the Gulf. Since the tragedy, NWF has closely monitored the harm done to wildlife and important habitats in the Gulf and along the coast. Though the full impacts of the oil spill remain unknown, this summarizes what we know so far, and what restoration still needs to be done. http://www.nwf.org/fouryearslater
Why Kids Should Play Outside in Every Weather: Sun, Rain, Snow and More! Feel Confident Outdoors No Matter The Weather.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) created the Be Out There movement to give back to American children what they don’t even know they have lost: their connection to the natural world. In the process, NWF aims to help reverse alarming health trends and help families raise happier, healthier children. Signs everywhere show the spirit of the movement taking hold.
For more information, go to www.beoutthere.org/join
How to Split Bills in the Odoo 17 POS ModuleCeline George
Bills have a main role in point of sale procedure. It will help to track sales, handling payments and giving receipts to customers. Bill splitting also has an important role in POS. For example, If some friends come together for dinner and if they want to divide the bill then it is possible by POS bill splitting. This slide will show how to split bills in odoo 17 POS.
The Art Pastor's Guide to Sabbath | Steve ThomasonSteve Thomason
What is the purpose of the Sabbath Law in the Torah. It is interesting to compare how the context of the law shifts from Exodus to Deuteronomy. Who gets to rest, and why?
How to Make a Field invisible in Odoo 17Celine George
It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
Unit 8 - Information and Communication Technology (Paper I).pdfThiyagu K
This slides describes the basic concepts of ICT, basics of Email, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives in Education. This presentations aligns with the UGC Paper I syllabus.
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France. It marked the decline of absolute monarchies, the rise of secular and democratic republics, and the eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. This revolutionary period is crucial in understanding the transition from feudalism to modernity in Europe.
For more information, visit-www.vavaclasses.com
Palestine last event orientationfvgnh .pptxRaedMohamed3
An EFL lesson about the current events in Palestine. It is intended to be for intermediate students who wish to increase their listening skills through a short lesson in power point.
Students, digital devices and success - Andreas Schleicher - 27 May 2024..pptxEduSkills OECD
Andreas Schleicher presents at the OECD webinar ‘Digital devices in schools: detrimental distraction or secret to success?’ on 27 May 2024. The presentation was based on findings from PISA 2022 results and the webinar helped launch the PISA in Focus ‘Managing screen time: How to protect and equip students against distraction’ https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/managing-screen-time_7c225af4-en and the OECD Education Policy Perspective ‘Students, digital devices and success’ can be found here - https://oe.cd/il/5yV
The Roman Empire A Historical Colossus.pdfkaushalkr1407
The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
Under Augustus, the empire experienced the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of relative peace and stability. Augustus reformed the military, established efficient administrative systems, and initiated grand construction projects. The empire's borders expanded, encompassing territories from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Euphrates. Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and engineering prowess, secured and maintained these vast territories, building roads, fortifications, and cities that facilitated control and integration.
The Roman Empire’s society was hierarchical, with a rigid class system. At the top were the patricians, wealthy elites who held significant political power. Below them were the plebeians, free citizens with limited political influence, and the vast numbers of slaves who formed the backbone of the economy. The family unit was central, governed by the paterfamilias, the male head who held absolute authority.
Culturally, the Romans were eclectic, absorbing and adapting elements from the civilizations they encountered, particularly the Greeks. Roman art, literature, and philosophy reflected this synthesis, creating a rich cultural tapestry. Latin, the Roman language, became the lingua franca of the Western world, influencing numerous modern languages.
Roman architecture and engineering achievements were monumental. They perfected the arch, vault, and dome, constructing enduring structures like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and aqueducts. These engineering marvels not only showcased Roman ingenuity but also served practical purposes, from public entertainment to water supply.
The Indian economy is classified into different sectors to simplify the analysis and understanding of economic activities. For Class 10, it's essential to grasp the sectors of the Indian economy, understand their characteristics, and recognize their importance. This guide will provide detailed notes on the Sectors of the Indian Economy Class 10, using specific long-tail keywords to enhance comprehension.
For more information, visit-www.vavaclasses.com
2. Executive Summary
“We have shifted
our culture from one
that is engaged in a
healthy, interactive,
imaginative way to one
that is inwardly facing,
sedentary and expecting
things to be fed to us.”
Dr. Michael Rich, Director of the Center of
Media and Child Health, Children’s Hospital
Boston, Associate Professor, Harvard
Medical School and School of Public Health
W
W
ake up, America, to a day in the life of
the average kid in 2010:
It begins with breakfast, most likely in
front of a TV, followed by a bus or car
ride to school, texting on the way. The
day continues at school, with little or no
recess, then time for after-school snacks
in front of the TV, homework, and a drivethru dinner in the backseat on a mad dash
to extracurricular activities. The evening
brings computer face time, more texting, a
little more TV, and bed.
W
ake up: during this day-in-the-life, our
typical child goes outdoors barely
enough to pick a dandelion and scatter its
seeds to the wind. It doesn’t matter if the
seeds would zig-zag down a city street,
dodging between taxi cabs, or quietly float
down a country lane—modern children
just don’t have the time, inclination or
motivation to follow where they lead.
ake up. Today’s kids are indoors far
more than their parents were, with only
a quarter of children playing outside daily as
compared to nearly three quarters a generation
ago, even in rural areas.1 While contemporary
parents spent their free time as kids exploring
and playing in nature, their children devote
only four2 to seven minutes a day3 to
unstructured outdoor play like climbing trees,
drawing with chalk on the sidewalk, taking a
nature walk or playing a game of catch. Yet,
kids spend more than seven hours each day in
front of electronic media.4 Even preschoolers
are not exempt. Most log an excess of 32
hours per week of TV, according to The Nielsen
Company. By the time most children attend
kindergarten, they have watched more than
5,0005 hours of television–enough time to earn
a college degree.6
The nature of childhood has changed:
There’s not much nature in it. And if you’re
not concerned, you should be. American
childhood’s move indoors profoundly impacts
the health and wellness of our nation’s
kids. It is not just a sad loss of innocence;
a detachment from all things growing and
green. It is a serious public health issue
that all Americans need to care about. In the
last twenty years, childhood obesity rates
have more than doubled;7 the United States
has become the largest consumer of ADHD
medications in the world;8 and the use of
antidepressants in pediatric patients has risen
sharply.9
American kids are out of shape, tuned out
and stressed out because they’re missing
something essential to their health and
development, unstructured time playing
outdoors. National Wildlife Federation (NWF)
created the Be Out There movement to give
back to American children what they don’t
even know they’ve lost: their connection to
the natural world. In the process, NWF aims to
help reverse alarming health trends and help
families raise happier, healthier children. Signs
everywhere show the spirit of the movement
taking hold.
First Lady Michelle Obama, President
Barack Obama, numerous Governors, and
several Administration officials are currently
advancing efforts to reconnect children,
youth, and families with nature through major
White House initiatives.
When First Lady Michelle Obama formally
launched the “Let’s Move Outside!” Initiative
in June, 2010, as part of her broad campaign
to tackle childhood obesity through healthier
food and activity choices, she recalled that
3. An April 20, 2010 study by the Pew
Research Center revealed half of teens
send 50 or more text messages a day, or
1,500 texts a month, and one in three
send more than 100 texts a day, or more
than 3,000 texts a month.
when she was growing up an hour of
rigorous activity was no problem. It
wasn’t called “activity”, it was called
“play.” President Obama echoed the
importance of active time outside at the
launch of the White House’s “America’s
Great Outdoors” initiative, encouraging
young people to hike and bike more, and
saying outdoor family time will help meet
the goals of the Let’s Move! campaign.
In addition, all 50 Governors declared
June 2010 “Great Outdoors Month”
encouraging children and families to get
outdoors and enjoy nature. By making
outdoor time a national priority, we take
the first step—out the door—to healthier,
happier kids.
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF)
is working with hundreds of partner
organizations to advance policies that
reconnect children with nature. In
February, 2010, NWF and its partners
petitioned the U.S. Surgeon General Dr.
Regina Benjamin urging her to issue
a “call to action” to all Americans on
the importance of regular, active time
outdoors. This was deemed “perfectly
aligned” with the Surgeon General’s vision
for healthy kids and “an excellent strategy
for increasing kid’s physical activity” by
Acting Deputy U.S. Surgeon General Dr.
David Rutstein.
NWF and its many partners are also
working to implement the National
Physical Activity Plan launched in May,
2010 with the goal that “one day all
Americans will be physically active
and they will live, work, and play in
environments that facilitate regular
physical activity.”
To keep these and other policies moving
forward and foster collaborations, a
newly formed strategic alliance called the
Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) launched
in June, 2010. OAK’s primary goals are
to advance public policy, raise decisionmaker awareness, and engage young
people in the movement to reconnect
children, youth, and families with the
outdoors. Representing diverse businesses
and non-profit groups, including the
National Wildlife Federation, OAK will
address the growing divide between
children and the natural world.
OAK is working to pass key legislation
to reconnect American children and
families to the outdoors, including the
Moving Outdoors in Nature Act. This Act
includes provisions for outdoor recreation
programs, creation of natural play areas,
engagement of healthcare providers, and
much more. This bill and others will go a
long way toward changing the way we live,
move, learn and play.
This report, Whole Child: Developing Mind,
Body and Spirit through Outdoor Play, is
the first in a series illuminating the critical
issues and societal costs surrounding
America’s indoor childhood. It is not
meant to be exhaustive, nor can it be.
Compelling work has been done that we
do not have room to include, and excellent
research continues on this subject. Here,
we offer insight into the health benefits
associated with children and the outdoors
and hope it will spark discussion and
action at the family, community, local,
state and national levels.
This report examines the ways in which
nature, specifically unstructured daily
outdoor time, nurtures a child’s body, mind
and spirit and offers recommendations for
parents, healthcare providers, educators,
media representatives and government
leaders that will help children grow
healthy and strong. As you will learn, the
negative health effects of this societywide shift to the indoors are great—but the
benefits of getting more time outdoors
on mind, body and spirit can be a great
part of mitigating the risks and increasing
overall wellness. When it comes to the
whole child, nature may indeed be the
best kind of nurture.
2
4. MIND:
Get Schooled
on Outdoor
Play
A
merican childhood’s increasingly “interior landscape” has altered the country’s
educational landscape because it includes fewer opportunities for outdoor time at
school. Once a part of every child’s school day, recess is heading toward extinction. While
“play is an active form of learning that unites the mind, body, and spirit,” according to the
National Association for the Education of Young Children, many schools around the country
have limited or eliminated recess. This is particularly true for urban and lower income
students.10 Budget cutbacks and the demands of preparing for standardized statewide tests
means fewer outdoor field trips and opportunities to explore the natural world up close.
With more and more children being driven to school, just one-in-eight U.S. children now walk
or bike to class, eliminating time outdoors as part of most children’s pre-and post-school
ritual.11
While playing and learning outside may be more difficult to fit in a busy schedule, teachers
need to think twice about saying, “Stop staring out the window and pay attention.”
According to a March, 2010 survey by NWF of nearly 2,000 educators, 78 percent
feel students who spend regular time in unstructured outdoor play are better able to
concentrate, and 75 percent feel students who spend regular time outdoors are more
creative and better problem solvers. Studies confirm access to nature in an educational
setting has a positive impact on student focus and learning by improving attentiveness, test
scores and performance.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) now estimates that 4.5 million children aged
5-17 years have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
According to Cal Tech’s Jet Propulsion Lab, interviews of all potential candidates
include questions about their play experiences as children, because they’ve found
a direct correlation between hands-on play and superior problem-solving skills.
with diagnoses of the disease increasing 3% each year between 1997 and 2006.12
By conservative estimates, ADHD costs the United States between $36 and $52 billion
annually13, presenting challenges to both health professionals and educators. Learning
is often inhibited for children with the disorder as well as their fellow students. There is
no one definitive reason why ADHD diagnoses are on the rise, but theories include better
diagnostics, chemicals in our environment and food, and increases in media consumption.
While not considered a cure, exposure to natural settings may be “widely effective” in
reducing ADHD symptoms in kids, according to researchers at the University of Illinois. The
authors surveyed parents of more than 400 boys and girls diagnosed with ADHD about their
children’s performance in a wide range of activities, both indoors and in natural settings
such as a tree-lined street or park. The “green” activities consistently received more
positive ratings, indicating that outdoor time is beneficial in reducing ADHD symptoms.14
Sadly, children with ADHD may get even less outdoor time than their peers, as children with
attention problems are more often held in for recess due to misbehavior in the classroom.
5. Regular outdoor time can be a scholastic boon to children with attention problems, but
research reveals connecting all kids with nature can help them excel academically. A 2003
study entitled “Environmental Education: Improving Student Achievement” compared 77 pairs
of demographically equivalent schools and examined standardized test performance. Half of the
schools had environmental education programs and half did not. The study concluded that in the
schools with an environmental education component, students scored higher on standardized
tests in math, reading, writing and listening—and this pattern of improved test scores persisted
for five years.15
A 2004 study supports the positive effect of environment-based education on learning,
specifically its ability to boost critical thinking. Test scores of 400 students, grades 9-12 in
11 Florida high schools were studied to measure response to Environment as an Integrating
Context for Learning (EIC Model) programs. Researchers evaluated performance on three normreference tests including Achievement Motivation Inventory, Cornell Critical Thinking Test and
the California Measure of Mental Motivation. EIC programs were found to significantly raise
performance on all three tests.16
“Wouldn’t it be great if schools were designed
next to wooded areas so the wooded areas could
be used for educational purposes?”
Sheila Franklin,
Executive Director of the National Coalition
for Promoting Physical Activity
Outdoor time has
a dramatic impact
on children’s
attentiveness
and school
preparedness,
including a
reduction in ADHD
symptoms — a
problem that has
exponentially
increased over
the last several
decades. Children
who spend time
outdoors, whether
through walking or
biking to school, or
playing or learning
outside, score
higher on a wide
range of tests of
their academic
ability and
performance.
4
6. BODY:
Let’s Move, Outside!
“I am deeply troubled by some
of the trends I see in my
practice including increased
obesity in kids and higher
rates of asthma, attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder,
anxiety and depression.
What all kids need are
natural, safe places where
they can play."
Dr. Sandra Stenmark, pediatrician
with Kaiser Permanente and
Physician Lead of Colorado Pediatric
Cardiovascular Health
“Sixty minutes of
daily unstructured
free play is essential
to children’s physical
and mental health."
American Academy of Pediatrics
G
rowing up “inside the box”—always in a room, four walls and
a ceiling—affects the whole child, but impacts to children’s
bodies are perhaps the most dramatic and urgent. Children
raised indoors are at risk for serious health problems, and
it’s not a matter of when these problems will arrive; they’re
already here in the form of obesity, vision problems vitamin D
deficiency, and diabetes.
When it comes to obesity, the numbers are heavily weighted
in favor of an epidemic, according to the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC). In the last 20 years, the prevalence of obesity
among young children aged 6 to 11 has more than doubled
to 17 percent and more than tripled to 17.6 percent for
adolescents aged 12-19.17 The odds of being obese are even
higher in marginalized neighborhoods with few or no parks.
Risks associated with overweight and obesity include high blood
pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma, sleep apnea, joint
pain, and fatty liver disease—and most alarmingly, shortened life
expectancy.
“Overweight and obese adolescents have a 70 percent chance
of becoming obese adults,” according to Acting Deputy U.S.
Surgeon General Dr. David Rutstein. “If this problem is not
addressed, we will leave our children a legacy of shorter life
spans for the first time in history.”
Playing outside is an excellent way for children to start living
healthier, and longer, lives, since outdoor play is associated
with higher physical activity levels than playing indoors. To
combat childhood obesity, the CDC recommends one hour per
day of physical activity for kids. Outdoor games that include
running, jumping, and climbing, whether in the backyard, a
neighborhood playground, or a city park, engage children’s
cardiovascular system and major muscle groups, helping them
grow trimmer and stronger. The real benefit of outdoor play is
that children are doing what comes naturally, having fun, and
don’t see it as “exercising.”
From the risks of too much weight to…eyes? Children who play
outside literally see things differently. Several studies reveal kids
who get outdoor time suffer less nearsightedness, reducing their
need for eyeglasses. Myopia has become increasingly common
among young children in recent decades, with indoor time spent
reading up-close material, such as on an electronic screen,
a potential cause. According to a study in the Journal of the
American Academy of Optometry, a child’s chance of becoming
nearsighted if he or she has two nearsighted parents is about six
in ten for children who spend zero to five hours outside a week.
But the risk drops to two in ten when outdoor time exceeds 14
hours a week, reducing the myopia risk by two-thirds.18
Another surprisingly prevalent health problem arising from
spending too much time indoors is vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin
D is primarily produced in the skin after exposure to sunlight.
With children spending less and less time outdoors, they
receive limited doses of daily sunshine, leading to inadequate
7. “When I was young we walked to school
every day, rain or shine-in wind, sleet, hail
and snow, too. And we spent hours running
around outside when school got out.”
First Lady Michelle Obama
levels of vitamin D and setting them up for increased risk of bone
problems, heart cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other health
issues.19 In fact, a study of vitamin D levels in nearly 10,000 children
found 9 percent of American children aged 1 to 21 were vitamin
D deficient, representing 7.6 million U.S. children, and 61% were
vitamin D insufficient, representing 50.8 million U.S. children.20
The health risks of America’s
indoor childhood threaten to
give this generation of kids the
Total Media Exposure, By Age
HOURS
terrible distinction of living
Total amount of media exposure in a typical day, by age:
shorter and lower-quality lives
12
11:53 Hours
11:23 Hours
vitamin D deficiencies put children
10
8
at risk for heart disease, bone
problems, cancer, diabetes, high
7:51 Hours
blood pressure, asthma and more.
6
Moving and playing outdoors
offers enormous benefits, including
4
healthier body weights, stronger
muscles and bones, healthy hearts
2
0
than their parents. Obesity and
and better eyesight.
8- Years Old
10
11- Years Old
14
15- Years Old
18
Source: Keiser Family Foundation. GENERATION M2 Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds, 2010
6
8. A BE Out There Child is A WHOLE
A Be OUT THERE CHILD IS a Whole
MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT
Mind, Body and Spirit
CREATIVE
Whether for building a fort out of twigs,
creating a fairy forest or pretending to
be a superhero, playing outside inspires,
and requires, an active imagination.
SMART
Children who spend time outdoors learn
to work as a team and are better
problems solvers as adults. They score
higher on assessments of cognitive
ability and standardized tests.
CALM
In today’s overscheduled world, kids
could use a little more R&R. Research
shows their stress levels fall within
minutes of being outside.
Over the last two decades childhood has
Over the last two decades childhood
has moved indoors, but studies show children who
moved indoors, but studies show children who
regularlyregularly spend time outside healthier and happier.
spend time outside are are healthier and happier.
9. EChild:
CHILD:
KIND
Mom always says to “play nice.” When
kids play outside, they are more likely
to! Being outdoors helps create
compassion and improves social bonds.
HAPPY
Play protects kids’ emotional
development, letting kids be kids. Lying
in the grass to watch the clouds go by
or playing a game of tag to let off steam
helps keep joy at the forefront.
HEALTHY
Overweight and obese children are at
risk for shortening their lifespans. Give
your kids the run-around—outdoors—to
help them maintain a healthy weight.
STRONG
Sunshine helps kids’ bodies create
vitamin D, which is essential to building
strong bones and preventing disease.
Visit www.BeOutThere.org to learn more
Visit www.BeOutThere.org to learn more
about making every kid a Be Out There kid.
about making every kid a Be Out There kid.
www.BeOutThere.org
10. SPIRIT:
Be Out
There, and
Play Nice
H
ow many modern kids could recognize a tweet that’s a bird call rather than a
140-character sound bite? How many would pick a blackberry to eat rather than to
text on? Like mini CEO’s, modern children shuttle from lessons to sessions in art, dance,
and organized sports, leaving little time for free time. In fact, a six-year study of kids’
discretionary time showed an overall 16 percent decline in time for play, or a total of nine
fewer hours per week. When kids had a few moments to themselves, they were plugged in, and
the study showed that computer use rose significantly during that time.21 With most of their
time spent overscheduled and in constant contact, today’s kids are hyper-connected, yes, but
to whom and what? And does high tech overload make them happier?
Perhaps not. Antidepressant use is on the rise according to a four-year study that examined
antidepressant use among approximately two million children under the age of 18. Over
the course of the study, antidepressant use increased by 49%, with the fastest growing
segment of users found to be preschool children aged 0-5 years.22 Characterized by low
mood, anxiety and loss of self-esteem, among other symptoms, childhood depression is a
serious illness that outdoor time can help alleviate.
An increasing number of experts are recognizing the role of playing outside in enhancing kids’
mental health by helping to better connect them to self, to others and to the natural world.
An American Academy of Pediatrics 2007 report on the importance of play points out that
play protects children’s emotional development whereas loss of free time in combination with
a hurried lifestyle can be a source of stress, anxiety and may even contribute to depression for
“Nature brings out more social feelings, more value for
community and close relationships.”
Richard Ryan, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Psychiatry and Education, University of Rochester
many children.23 According to one study, children’s stress levels fall within minutes of seeing
green spaces, a simple, no-cost and time-efficient antidote for stressed-out kids.24
Children who spend much of their time indoors watching television or playing video games
can become isolated and withdrawn, even if they think they are connecting on-line. But
playing outside person-to-person helps young people improve social interactions. Free play
teaches kids to share, cooperate and resolve problems. Researchers have found kids who
play together and organize games experience a constructive way to avoid social isolation.25
This type of group interaction also helps a child learn teamwork and how to problem solve
with others.
11. According to Dr. Rich of Children’s Hospital Boston, playing with others outdoors, “demands of us
that we create a fort out of a backyard, and a tree house out of a tree and a bunch of old boards.
It demands we put together the imaginary play we need in order to be good problem solvers as
adults.”
So nature helps kids feel less stress and interact in positive ways, but a 2009 study at the
University of Rochester reveals that being in, or even looking at, nature also makes human beings
behave more human—it makes you nicer.26 “Previous studies have shown the health benefits of
nature range from more rapid healing to stress reduction to improved mental performance and
vitality,” says Richard Ryan, a professor of psychology, psychiatry, and co-author of the study.
“Now we’ve found people are more caring when they’re around nature.”
“When we go outside, my kids become their best
selves. Gone are the petty arguments about whose
turn it is or what to do next. Suddenly the kids are
creative—digging in the dirt, picking up worms,
jumping and laughing."
Excessive media
consumption
contributes to
a reduction in
happiness for
today’s children.
Replacing
connectedness to
self, friends and
the natural world
with the pseudoconnectedness of
the online world
doesn’t work.
Nature offers
opportunities
to decompress,
reduce stress
and improve
relationships,
helping kids
feel lighter and
happier.
Renee Limon, co-founder of Enviromom.com
8
12. Keeping Kids Whole:
Be Out There
Recommendations
for Caregivers,
Healthcare Providers,
Policy Makers, and
Educators
"Some say it takes a
village to raise a child.
NWF says: it takes a
backyard, a playground,
a park"
Jaime Matyas,
Executive Vice-President and
Chief Operating Officer of
National Wildlife Federation
T
his report detailed how American childhood is going down a wrong path, one that is increasingly
neither green nor outdoors. At stake is the health and happiness of our nation’s children, who will
have unhealthier, unhappier and, tragically, shorter lives if we do not do something, now, to change the
way they live, learn and play. Risks to mind, body and spirit range from attention problems to obesity to
depression. But NWF believes these risks, and more, are reversible, if only we ask: “What if?”
What if we could each make a difference, getting kids back outside where they belong and helping them
lead happier, healthier, longer lives? What if we worked together—parents, teachers, healthcare providers,
and local, state and national leaders—to make it happen? And what if, in only one generation, we could all
wake up to a new day for America’s kids?
Let’s all Be Out There, and see.
Caregivers
•
Where safe, encourage kids to walk or bike to school.
•
Download simple and fun Be Out There activities. Don’t
forget that gardening can be a fun way to get kids outside
while they experience the thrill of helping things grow.
•
Enlist friends and neighbors to create outdoor playgroups.
Take the pledge to Be Out There and get the kids in their
life into the great outdoors www.beoutthere.org/pledge.
•
Join kids for outdoor fun in the backyard, garden, park or
nature trail.
Be a role model for kids: show them how to un-plug from
media and plug into nature.
•
Download Be Out There health questions to share with
their pediatrician and school health professional.
Parents are the custodians of their children’s health. Along with
grandparents, aunts and uncles, neighbors and family friends, they
strongly influence habits and are instrumental in creating and
maintaining behaviors that lead to wellness. Caregivers can do the
following to encourage outdoor time:
•
•
13. Healthcare Providers
By recommending patients establish healthy behaviors early, such as
daily time outdoors, medical doctors and mental health practitioners
can help reduce negative health impacts of an indoor childhood.
“I would far rather write a prescription for safe outdoor play for my
pediatric patients than see them five years later with depression,
anxiety and obesity,” says Wendy Kohatsu, MD, Santa Rosa Family
Medicine and assistant clinical professor at the University of California,
San Francisco. By taking the following actions, healthcare providers
can lead the charge toward whole child wellness:
•
Add three to five questions about outdoor time and media
habits to intake forms/risk assessments. Plus, inform parents
of the link between outdoor time and better health.
•
Instruct parents to create a nature journal that catalogs
outdoor activities with their kids and the effect it has on their
children’s mood.
•
Provide funds and manpower at the local level so that safe
outdoor play areas can be developed, especially in underserved
communities.
Educators
Most children spend more waking hours in school each day than with
their parents. Educators can have a profound effect on students’
attentiveness and classroom performance by taking the following
actions:
Hang Be Out There posters in their waiting rooms.
•
•
Include links to Be Out There activities on their websites.
•
Partner with health organizations to design plans, projects or
policies that promote health.
Write a prescription for regular outdoor time.
•
•
Remind parents to limit plugged-in time.
•
Encourage teachers, school nurses and principals to include
unstructured outdoor time and recess as part of their daily
curriculum.
•
Advocate on the school district, county and state level for
recess and outdoor time.
•
Begin a safe routes to school program to encourage kids to
bike and walk to school.
•
Post outdoor activities and their benefits on school websites,
such as Blackboard, with links to Be Out There resources.
•
Encourage school counselors to include outdoor activities as
examples of how to build social skills and confidence.
•
Get your school involved in creating an NWF Schoolyard
Habitat® or register your school as an Eco-School so students
can engage in a variety of outdoor activities that help the
environment.
Local, State and National Leaders
For change to happen, it must be supported on the local, state and
national level. Government leaders and policy makers can do their part
to ensure America’s childhood moves back outside.
•
Pass the federal Moving Outdoors in Nature Act and the
federal No Child Left Inside Act to engage children in outdoor
learning at school.
•
Adopt the Centers for Disease Control environmental policies
to support obesity prevention.
•
Urge the U.S. Surgeon General to issue a “Call to Action” on
the health benefits of healthy, active time outdoors in nature.
•
Include policies that connect children with nature in the White
House’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative and the First
Lady’s Let’s Move Outside! campaign.
“I’ve begun hearing about doctors around
the country who are medicating their
patients with nature in order to prevent
(or treat) health problems ranging
from heart disease to attention deficit
disorder.”
Dr. Daphne Miller, family physician and associate clinical
professor at the University of California, San Francisco
•
Create comprehensive state strategies for connecting children
to nature through education, health, parks and recreation.
10
14. References
1.
Clements, R. “An Investigation of the State of Outdoor Play.”
Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, Vo. 5(1): 68-80, 2004.
2. Hofferth, Sandra and John Sandberg (1999), “Changes in American
Children’s Time, 1981-1997,” University of Michigan Institute for
Social Research.
3. Juster, F. Thomas et al. (2004). “Changing Times of American
Youth: 1981-2003,”Institute for Social Research, University of
Michigan. http://www.umich.edu/news/Releases/2004/Nov04/
teen_time_report.pdf
4. Rideout, Victoria et al. (2010). “Generation M: Media in the Lives
of 8-18 Year-Olds,” The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. http://
www.kff.org/entmedia/entmedia030905pkg.cfm
5. McDonough, Patricia (2009), “TV Viewing Among Kids at an EightYear High,” The Nielsen Company, October 26, 2009. http://blog.
nielsen.com/nielsenwire/media_entertainment/tv-viewing-amongkids-at-an-eight-year-high/
Calculation of > 5,000 hours:
32 TV hrs/wk for 2-5 yr olds * 52 wks/yr * 3.25 yrs of watching
(based on 5.25 avg age for starting kindergarten) = 5,408 hours of
TV watching before starting kindergarten.
6. Indiana University East: Planning Your Semester. (2009). Retrieved
December 23, 2009, from http://www.iue.edu/ucollege/advising/
planningyoursemester.php
Calculation for total hours to get a college degree:
120 credit hours for degree * 2.5 times the hours for studying and
class time per week * avg of 14 week semester = 4,200 total hours
7. CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion. Division of Adolescent and School Health. Childhood
Obesity. 20 Oct. 2008. http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity
8. Sax, Leonard, “Ritalin - Better Living Through Chemistry?” The
World and I. Nov. 1, 2000.
9. Delate, T., Gelenberg, A.J., Simmons, V.A., & Motheral, B.R. (2004)
“Trends in the use of antidepressant medications in a nationwide
sample of commercially insured pediatric patients, 1998-2002.”
Psychiatric Services. 55(4):387-391.
14. Kuo, PhD, Frances E., & Andrea Faber Taylor, PhD. “A Potential
Natural Treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder:
Evidence From a National Study.” American Journal of Public
Health 94.9. Sept. 2004. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/
articlerender.fcgi?artid=1448497
15. Bartosh, Oksana. “Environmental Education: Improving Student
Achievement.” Evergreen State College, 2003. http://www.seer.
org/pages/research/Bartosh 2003.pdf
16. Ernst, Julie (Athman) & Martha Monroe. “The effects of
environment-based education on students’ critical thinking skills
and disposition toward critical thinking.” 10.4 Environmental
Education Research, Nov. 2004.
17. CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion. Division of Adolescent and School Health. Childhood
Obesity. 20 Oct. 2008. http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity
18. “Outdoor time may protect kids from nearsightedness.” Reuters.
Optometry and Vision Science, Jan. 2009.
19. American Academy of Pediatrics. “Many Children have Suboptimal
Vitamin D Levels,” Pediatrics. http:///www.aap.org/advocacy/
releases/oct2609studies/htm
20. Kumar, J., Muntner, P., Kaskel, F.J., Hailpern, S.M., & Melamed,
M.L. (2009). Prevalence and associations of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D
deficiency in US children: NHANES 2001-2004. Pediatrics (August
3).
21. Hofferth, Sandra & John Sandberg (1999), “Changes in American
Children’s Time, 1981-1997,” University of Michigan Institute for
Social Research.
22. Delate, T., Gelenberg, A.J., Simmons, V.A., & Motheral, B.R. (2004)
“Trends in the use of antidepressant medications in a nationwide
sample of commercially insured pediatric patients, 1998-2002.”
23. Ginsburg, MD MSEd, Kenneth R. Committee on Communications,
and Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family
Health. “The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child
Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds.” 119.1
10. What’s on our minds….Play, Policy and Practice (PPP). Interest
Forum, Olga Jarrett, Ph.D., Georgia State University, Atlanta, Sandi
Waite-Stupiansky, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
24. Kuo, PhD, Frances E., & Andrea Faber Taylor, PhD. “A Potential
Natural Treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder:
Evidence From a National Study.” American Journal of Public
Health 94.9.Sept. 2004. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/
articlerender.fcgi?artid=1448497
11. Beck, L.F. & Greenspan, A.I. (2008) “Why don’t more children walk
to school?” Journal of Safety Research, 39(5), 449-452.
25. National Association for the Education of Young Children.
http:naeyc.org
12. Bloom, B. & Cohen, R.A. Summary Health Statistics for U.S.
Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2006. National Center
for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10(234). 2007.
26. Weinstein, N., Przybylski, A. K., & Ryan, R. M. (2009). “Can nature
make us more caring? Effects of immersion in nature on intrinsic
aspirations and generosity.” Personality and Social Psychology
Bulletin, 35, 1315-1329.
13. Pastor, P.N. & Reuben, C.A. Diagnosed attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder and learning disability: United States,
2004–2006. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health
Stat 10(237). 2008.
PHOTO CREDITS: Girl with pink hat - Leighann Calentine/d-mom.com; Boy in
tree - Amie Hurst Adams/mammaloves.com; Boy hugging tree - Holly Ambrose/
tropicofmom.com; Beach scene - Emily McKhann/themotherhood.com; Girl
fishing - Rebecca Garland; Kids on boogie boards – Rebecca Garland
15. Get Physically Fit and Have Fun with
These Fun Outdoor Activities
The following health professionals have reviewed this report for
accuracy and concur with its findings.
Calories Burned / Hr*
Wendy Kohatsu, M.D.
413
266
148
266
236
472
236
708
207
354
472
177
295
325
354
472
236
295
413
295
413
236
236
590
531
177
354
295
413
472
413
413
295
472
413
177
472
472
354
472
207
295
Director, Integrative Medicine Fellowship
Core Faculty/Culinary Medicine Chef
Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency
Backpacking
Badminton, social
Baseball, playing catch
Basketball, shooting baskets
Bicycling, <10mph, leisure
Bicycling, 12-14mph, moderate
Canoeing, on camping trip
Canoeing, rowing, vigorous
Fishing from river bank
Fishing in stream or surfs
Football, touch or flag
Frisbee playing
Gardening
Golf, carrying clubs
Hiking, cross country
Hockey, ice or field
Horseback riding
Hunting
Jogging
Kayaking
Kickball
Paddleboat
Raking lawn
Rope jumping, moderate
Running, cross country
Sailing, boat/board, windsurfing
Shoveling snow
Skateboarding
Skating, ice
Skiing, cross-country
Skiing, downhill
Sledding
Snorkeling
Snow shoeing
Soccer, casual
Surfing, body or board
Swimming, freestyle, light/moderate
Tennis, doubles
Tennis, singles
Volleyball, beach
Walking the dog
Whitewater rafting, kayaking, or canoeing
* Calories burned based on 130 lb person, source:
Victoria Maizes, M.D.
Executive Director, Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine
Professor of Clinical Medicine, Family Medicine, and Public Health
Daphne Miller, M.D.
Family Physician
Associate Clinical Professor, University of California, San Francisco
Michael Rich, M.D.
Director of the Center of Media and Child Health
Children’s Hospital of Boston
Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School and School of Public Health
Sandra Stenmark, M.D.
Physician Lead of Colorado Pediatric Cardiovascular Health
Kaiser Permanente
Andrew Weil, M.D.
Founder and Director, Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine
Clinical Professor of Medicine and Professor of Public Health
Lovell-Jones Professor of Integrative Rheumatology
Kids of all ages
Make two mud pie
s
and you won’t ne
ed
to call me in the
morning.
Mother Nature
Department of Health and Family Services, State of Wisconsin
12
16. There’s a reason they call it the great outdoors.
TM
National Wildlife Federation
11100 Wildlife Center Dr, Reston VA 20190
www.beoutthere.org