''Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder'' is a 2005 book by author Richard Louv that documents decreased exposure of children to

nature Nature, in the broadest sense, is the physical world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large, if not the only, part of science. Although humans are ...

in American society and how this " nature-deficit disorder" harms children and society. The book examines research and concludes that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy

childhood A child (plural, : children) is a human being between the stages of childbirth, birth and puberty, or between the Development of the human body, developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers ...

development and for the physical and

emotional Emotions are mental states brought on by neurophysiological changes, variously associated with thoughts, feelings, behavioral responses, and a degree of pleasure or displeasure. There is currently no scientific consensus on a definition ...

health of children and

adult An adult is a human or other animal that has reached full growth. In human context, the term ''adult'' has meanings associated with social and legal concepts. In contrast to a " minor", a legal adult is a person who has attained the age of maj ...

s. The author also suggests solutions to the problems he describes. A revised and expanded edition was published in 2008.

Reception

The book was on the

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

best seller list for best paper nonfiction.The New York Times; Top 30 Paperback Nonfiction; nytimes.com/
/ref> The author received the Audubon Medal "for sounding the alarm about the health and societal costs of children's isolation from the natural world—and for sparking a growing movement to remedy the problem."

Versions

*English: ''The Last Child in the Woods'', **Hardcover (April 15, 2005), **Paperback Updated and Expanded (April 10, 2008), **audio CD: Recorded Books; Unabridged edition (December 20, 2007),

Children & Nature Network

The success of ''Last Child in the Woods'' inspired the creation o
Children & Nature Network
co-founded and chaired by the book’s author, Richard Louv, to encourage and support the people and organizations working to reconnect children with nature.

Green Hour

Green Hour is an organization that provides information on how to reverse Nature-Deficit Disorder, and encourages parents to let their children explore and reconnect with the outdoors.

References

{{Reflist

External links