Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder

Summary

New York Times and Washington Post contributor Richard Louv is the widely respected author of seven previous books. In Last Child in the Woods, Louv illustrates how children’s interaction with nature leads to better social and emotional development.

Children used to spend untold hours playing in the great outdoors. But all too often today, this time is spent playing video games or surfing the internet. And technology is not the only culprit when it comes to separating kids from nature. Parents, fearful of sexual predators and other outdoor dangers, are keeping children within the safe confines of their homes. Little do they realize that this “protection” is contributing to obesity, attention disorders, and emotional instability.

With eye-opening research and illustrative anecdotes, Louv demonstrates the growing threat to today’s youth and offers effective methods for reintroducing children to nature—and thereby giving today’s children a gift of immeasurable importance.