''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 in American society and how this "

nature-deficit disorder Nature-deficit disorder is the idea that human beings, especially children, are spending less time outdoors than they have in the past, and the belief that this change results in a wide range of behavioral problems. This disorder is not recognize ...

" harms children and society. The book examines research and concludes that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood 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. E ...

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 major ...

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 best seller list for best paper nonfiction.The New York Times; Top 30 Paperback Nonfiction; nytimes.com/
/ref> The author received the

Audubon Medal The National Audubon Society (Audubon; ) is an American non-profit environmental organization dedicated to conservation of birds and their habitats. Located in the United States and incorporated in 1905, Audubon is one of the oldest of such organ ...

"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 Green Hour is a core concept of the U.S. National Wildlife Federation's Be Out There campaign. The campaign was created in response to a growing disconnect between nature and children, a condition dubbed nature deficit disorder by Richard Louv in h ...

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