Many children today know more about computer games, cable TV programs and mobile phones than they do about the nature surrounding them. They are stressed by a busy schedule of organized sports and over-structured lives filled with every thing except the time to go out and build a tree house.

Later, on the internet, I discovered the book by Richard Louv, who coined the phrase N.D.D., titled "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder"

Louv spent 10 years traveling around the United States reporting and speaking to parents and children, in both rural and urban areas, about their experiences in nature. In "Last Child in the Woods," he pairs their anecdotes with a growing body of scientific research that suggests children who are given early and ongoing positive exposure to nature thrive in intellectual, spiritual and physical ways that their "shut-in" peers do not. By reducing stress, sharpening concentration, and promoting creative problem solving, "nature-play" is also emerging as a promising therapy for attention-deficit disorder and other childhood maladies. Indeed Louv, in both the book's title and content, suggests that while increased exposure to nature may prove a salve for many of the childhood disorders that now run rampant, the very ubiquity of those disorders is evidence that two generations of alienation from nature may have already resulted in considerable harm to our kids.

He interviewed many kids who say, "I don't really have time to play," because they are always being carted off to some kind of lesson or "enrichment" activity. In this context he speaks of both the "criminalization" and "commercialization" of play -- that unless play takes the form of a competitive, structured activity, parents and kids think of it as just "wasted time" -- a lazy afternoon of daydreaming.

What is nature-deficit disorder?

It's the cumulative effect of withdrawing nature from children's experiences, but not just individual children. Families too can show the symptoms -- increased feelings of stress, trouble paying attention, feelings of not being rooted in the world. So can communities, so can whole cities. Really, what I'm talking about is a disorder of society -- and children are victimized by it.
(taken from an Article by Sarah Karnasiewicz  June 2, 2005 on Salam.com)  

So what are we going to do about Nature Deficit Disorder?

Through previous projects with children I have learned that you best can reach kids when they are away from all the “daily distractions”.  So it is ideal to give children positive experiences with nature while they are on holiday.  And who has the experience and inner peace to insure that these “Nature Experiences” are not a one time shot? Their Grandparents.
I am therefore working on a plan to offer a quality program in the framework of short holidays designed to help the Grandparents teach their Grandchildren about nature along with all the elements and facets which affect our daily lives. One of the most important facets is getting children to understand our “Food Chain” since many German children think Milk comes from a Plastic Box in the Supermarket and that the Cow is Lila (Purple – due to the Milka Chocolate Ads in Germany).  Very few kids today know where all the Items we find on the breakfast table actually come from or how they are produced – something a day at the Bio-Farm can quickly remedy.

What can you do to fight N.D.D.?

If you have read this far you have already taken the first step;

1. Get Informed – read up on the subject.  
2. Take your Kids or Grandkids out in the woods – show them how to have some good old fashioned, unstructured fun out among trees, in the woods or along the gorge.
3. Get them to Run, Jump and Climb without ever realizing that they are exercising. Rekindle your imagination and memories of what fantasy games you liked to play and get them excited and making up their own fantasy games and situations.  
4. Once you’ve got them “Hooked on Nature” tell them they are not allowed to go out and have fun in the woods (without any reason). Nothing makes an activity more appealing to kids than adding it to the “Forbidden List”.  
5. And finally... United We Stand! – Network! Get Connected to the Global Network for Nature.

Nature’s Children is just one of many great websites and organizations on this planet with a world or projects and activities to help children have positive nature-experiences. So please Network with others, share Ideas and experiences and do all you can do to fight this disease affecting our children today, because they are the very best children we have.