I recently read an excellent book called the Last Child In The Woods, authored by Richard Louv. It is a scholarly written book and discusses how we are raising a generation of children who spend little to no time in the woods, thus suffering from what Mr. Louv describes as a "nature deficit disorder".
Listen to this short video in which Mr. Louv shares his findings:
I think back to my own youth, remembering the 1,000's of hours spent exploring in the woods, climbing trees, looking for insects, playing in streams, getting muddy and wet and getting lots of healthy exercise.
Fast forward 30 years -- and today's kids spend nearly all of their time indoors -- some because of over-anxious parents worried their child will be abducted, and others, simply because children have video games, DVD movies, and that "drug with a plug" called the television. We are raising a generation of "couch potatoes"!
At Samurai Karate Studio, we have incorporated environmental self defense as part of our Black belt curriculum. I believe I am the only karate or martial art's school in the Columbia area, to be doing this.
Why?
Because self defense is more than just kicking and punching! We need to help remind our children that our planet has a finite amount of resources and we should do as much as we can to protect and preserve our planet!
I highly recommend you read this book.....
And if you are a parent, take the time to bring your children outdoors!
Explore!
Get dirty and most importantly, have some fun!
At the same time you will be reconnecting with nature and receive all the benefits "mother nature" has to offer!
I promise!