By Robert Reeves
Buffalo, NY – During the winter months, colder temperatures and standard time conspire to persuade many Buffalonians to live their lives indoors. For some, the sun only comes out on the weekend. Morning and evening commutes are accomplished with headlights, and offices lack windows. Young people, too, often go weeks or more without experiencing any connection to the natural world. Indeed, many have less free time in which to explore it than their parents.
While more pronounced at this time of year, the problem can be observed during any season. In the recent book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, author Richard Louv chronicles the divide between today's children and nature. He makes the case that a lack of unstructured play in the outdoors has real consequences for public health.
With so much of children's time taken up by school, sports, homework, and other organized activities, it may seem outdated for parents to encourage their kids to just go out and play. Yet, for many, exploring the fields, woods, and streams of their childhood neighborhoods was an important part of their own development whether they realize it or not. This exploration builds self-reliance, encourages physical fitness, and provides an outlet for creativity. Additionally, gaining an appreciation for the natural world at a young age increases the likelihood that children will become careful stewards of it as adults.
The vacant lots, farmland, and hidden woods present in residential neighborhoods of the recent past have, in many cases, been replaced with development. Where they still exist, adults are often more cautious than their own parents were in allowing children to visit them. And today's children have much more vying for their attention. Televisions, computers, and video games make the bedroom a more appealing destination than the park. Perceived safety concerns, brought to light by the proliferation of media outlets, also discourage outdoor play. While the challenges preventing children from getting outdoors are great, the consequences may be greater. Childhood obesity, depression, and attention disorders can all be traced, in part, to kids spending too much time indoors.
It's no secret that Western New York contains an embarrassment of natural riches, both large and small. From the unlikely confluence of fire and water at Eternal Flame Falls to wonder on a grand scale at Letchworth State Park, parents and children can find places to reconnect with the natural world together. In every town and village, Scouting groups plan monthly campouts that offer youth the opportunity for unstructured play in the outdoors, all while ensuring safety. The time has come for parents to reevaluate the benefits of direct experiences with nature for their children. It's time for outdoor education to take its place with the other areas valued in a child's development. Though the nights in Buffalo may be getting longer, let's make sure that our young people have time to see the sun.
Listener-Commentator Robert Reeves is camp director of the Schoellkopf Scout Reservation.
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